《Endless Isekai - the Life of Arson Omni》


 0. Prologue - The cycle of life

    At the Center of every galaxy is a planet, or string of planets that house life. These planets often see themselves as the only life in existence, but for one such group of planets, for a period of time, the inhabitants of these particular planets were accurate in their assessment.


    The universe was new. These people were indeed the first to discover practically everything life had to offer.


    Thus, they also faced every trouble known to life across the universe. From overpopulation, to pollution, to unrivaled crime and war.


    Time passed and though the people grew and learned, they quickly discovered that though they were the first, they were no longer the only life connected to Uni-Vare.


    They watched civilizations grow and fall around them from lightyears away. As they didn¡¯t want to bring what plagued them to new civilizations, especially those with as much or more promise than their own culture. The more they researched, the more they realized, that what they had tried, had already failed.


    The energy of Uni-Vare, connected them all, no matter how many lightyears away they were.


    Lifeforms in different galaxies, mimicked the creation of tools so exactly that some wondered if there was a being that instructed all life on how to live and understand.


    This epiphany led to both the System¡¯s discovery, and the birth of Cultivation in the universe. From this change to life came Ikarus. Or the people more commonly known as those too close to the original sun.


    This company has grown to become so renowned, they now control most of the realm known as Endless. They work in the fields of science, technology, and the arcane, without rival or competitor. Only those they choose to let stand amongst them survive.


    This is the story of the child that legacy left behind.


    ...


    ¡°Is she still asleep,¡± asked one king to another.


    ¡°Yes, but it shouldn¡¯t be much longer,¡± responded one of the seven kings that stood near the bedside of the woman they¡¯d all adored


    ¡°We should probably start soon before she rouses then, gentlemen,¡± said the only man lucky enough to win her heart. Though their return to the third realm layer of the universe ended what was seen as a union of untold power, the only proof of their relationship left, being the baby boy, yet to be seen by his mother.


    She had been asleep since the boy¡¯s birth. Due to both the amount of energy a child naturally drew from their mother¡¯s body during birth, being intensified far beyond what any of the Cultivators there had ever witnessed, and the convergence of rare bloodlines.


    His mother held him for centuries within her womb, which was seen as a blessing within the Cultivation community unlike any other. The longer the gestation period, the better.


    The babies born from extended pregnancies soared through the challenges of Cultivation with ease. As their abnormally powerful parents produced gene combinations with more than explosive results.


    The unnamed boy¡¯s own parents grew up in a time when these births were far more dangerous of, and most children of Cultivators and even Godlings didn¡¯t make it into their teens without the instability of their own bodies becoming¡­ explosive.


    ¡°Are you not worried,¡± asked one of the seven kings summoned. The baby¡¯s father turned to him and wondered if his old friend asked about the potential fragility of his son¡¯s body and overwhelming internal power, or his own bloodline¡¯s curse.


    ¡°Of course I am, but now is a day of naming, and honor, not worries,¡± responded the man with a smile while his son was brought into the large hospital bedroom. The nurse rolled the baby in before she handed him to his father with a smile of her own.


    ¡°The first right is yours, sire,¡± said the woman. The king took his named son and whispered into his left ear.


    ¡°May your path be as endless as the skies and stars, my son.¡± The father passed his son to the next king and the ceremony began.


    First came one father¡¯s blessing. Then seven kings. It wasn¡¯t a normal requirement to be a king for this piece of the ceremony, just coincidence.


    Then came eleven champions, all with blood relations. These powerful individuals would never gather in one place without great reason, but did in this instance with pleasure.


    The ceremony needed to be composed of family, and or close friends. All of which had shown up for the birth days ago and had been in waiting ever since.


    All eleven gave a champion¡¯s blessings, and his father smiled as he heard the whispered words of all who dared hold his son. He would kill any who dared whisper curses in his son¡¯s ear, so listened intently as the boy was passed throughout the room.


    Then came 13 Arcane masters, 17 martial grandmasters, and finally 21 realm lords.


    It wasn¡¯t until the king truly looked around at those gathered that he realized just how much his newest son¡¯s birth meant to their own realm as a whole. The men and women gathered there were blood related to either the father or the mother of the baby, which made the baby¡¯s father worried for his son¡¯s future for the first time in the baby¡¯s seven days of life.


    He and his son¡¯s mother weren¡¯t loved by many, maybe not even all those who gathered for their child''s birth, which made the back of his neck prickle with fear momentarily as the boy¡¯s grandfather on his mother¡¯s side held the child and whispered,


    ¡°May you rule over Omni, may you live beyond Omen, may all know your name, your path shall be endless.¡±


    The boy¡¯s father smiled with the knowledge that none gathered had been able to give anything but the best of intentions in his son¡¯s direction now that the hooded old man handed his grandchild back to the nurse.


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    The moment had come and all that was left was for the black haired beauty to awaken and take in the sight of her son. Before she could name him, and set their son on a path he hoped would be filled with glory and honor.


    Yet nothing he¡¯d done would have ever prepared him to be the father to this boy. Nor what was to unfold next.


    ¡°She¡¯s awake, sire,¡± said the nurse as she brought the boy back to his father. He looked to the woman he loved with his whole heart and missed with every day that passed. Her smile was warm and gave him chills, as he knew of the three people in the room that could kill him, she was one of them.


    ¡°Bring him to me Draphen, our son needs a name.¡± King Draphen, lord of three realm layers, looked into one golden eye, and one crimson eye of Elizabeth Amorra Carter and nodded. His heart skipped a beat as she lifted her arms toward the baby. The near goddess in the flesh still took his breath away.


    Draphen slowed when he heard his son make a noise, and was stunned further when the child opened his eyes for the first time and looked up at him. The eyes were far beyond the normal allure of his mother¡¯s.


    The king took in the moment that his son looked into his mother¡¯s eyes and his smile grew further as the woman was also stunned into tears.


    The baby had two dazzlingly crimson irises, absolutely filled with multi colored flakes. The king couldn¡¯t tell but the flakes looked like the feint stars that could be seen in the sky above during the last moments of a sunset. The exotic energies moved in a hypnotic spiral that kept the man frozen where he stood.


    ¡°No no no!¡±


    Draphen¡¯s eyes shot up toward Elizabeth who was yelling and, to his alarm, was attempting to get out of her hospital bed.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening¡­¡± Then he felt it as all those who¡¯d experienced a Tribulation ever had. The inversion of gravity was instantaneous.


    A massive hole was ripped into the sky far above the CityNation of Cloud Lake, so large it give those powerful enough to set their gazes upon the sight a true glimpse into heaven.


    The large halo of light framed a portrait filled with luscious landscapes and environments that every realm layer below its majesty tried to emulate in one way or another.


    All those who braved a look up at the might of the lightning summoned from heaven¡¯s breath lost both consciousness and days of memory.


    The only beings powerful enough to fight the reverse of gravity as heaven¡¯s mouth inhaled, were those gathered around the boy. Whilethose outside of the hospital were sucked into the sky alongside entire buildings and streets amid a storm of chaos; the mightiest of the realms below heaven couldn¡¯t even move.


    They were at the direct middle of the storm. A judgment of wrath and vengeance poured from the center of the portal to heaven so focused it no longer looked like lightning.


    A pillar of manna threatened to erase the continent as it fell from above.


    Draphen screamed as his son was lifted from his arms by pure pressure and mana fluctuations. No Tribulation he¡¯d ever lived through had caused enough pressure to stop his movements entirely, which made him fear the effects. The more powerful the Tribulation, the more intense the divine act was in nature.


    Then people begun to disappear in the room, teleported away to different realms, CityNations, or worlds away.


    Draphen felt as the force of gravity threatened to rip him apart from the inside out as the pressure around him grew. His body was pulled off the ground slightly and panic set in as he could see people sucked off their feet and yanked into the sky through the windows in the room.


    Cars smashed into buildings. Trees spun through the air like twigs caught in a thunderstorm. The destruction rolled out through the entire section of the city and claimed a billion lives in a breath.


    In the end, Draphen was the only one who witnessed his son be struck by the Tribulation¡¯s power. All he could do was scream in pain and terror while the city fell apart around him.


    It was as if gravity was restored to normal when the gateway to heaven closed. What seemed like an entire city was dropped from thousands of feet in the air the exact instance his son vanished.


    Debris rained down like a haphazardly flung toy building set. Which further destroyed the hospital Draphen was still inside, and ended up burying the man completely under rubble.


    It was in his darkest moment at the bottom of a collapsed hospital that he remembered Elizabeth had once confessed to him that a violent Tribulation had occurred the day she was born. From what she¡¯d described, only a city block had been effected. Where as the birth of their own son, had changed the landscape for hundreds of miles.


    It was then that he was given a quest for the first time. Elizabeth had told them that they were real but he¡¯d never believed it until that very moment.


    A red box outlined in a fanciful white gold trim stated the terms of the task reality itself bestowed upon him.


    ¡°You have helped give birth to a power that has the potential to bring great ruin, or prosperity. Your direct actions will either form him into what your people want, or what they will need to survive Omen. Be careful son of Omni, as heroes need villains to rise, and are not always strong enough to make the necessary sacrifices to see true ends to the conflicts of the living. Choose carefully.¡± Draphen looked over the words a hundred times or more. He ignored the thousands of notifications that popped up into his Overlay. People from all over the SunSpire realms were frantic to figure out what had occurred in his home.


    Draphen slowly came to his feet and cursed while literal tons of weight slid from his back and shoulders. He had to choose from two options beneath the passage and additional question.


    Like Father, Unlike Son, will you be what the world wants or what the world needs?


    Draphen thought it was a simple choice. As did all the others across all realms who received a quest and a choice that day.


    A mother who would have to live without her son, a son that was pulled through time, made the choice to become the catalyst of change. A grandfather, made the decision to give a blessing, rather than a curse to a boy he¡¯d hadn¡¯t truly met yet, in the far future for his own quest.


    While many others made kind choices for their quest, far more did not. Draphen began to wonder what his son¡¯s life would be like, and if he would ever be able to meet his lost child. Then his mind flickered to the quest and he knew that he would.


    Draphen cried silently at the thought that his son would go without a name, even as he began to transform. He often fought the rage brought on by his dragon¡¯s blood, but for the first time in a long time Draphen urged on the pressure that came with his curse. A roar escaped his chest and a wave of fire rippled outward in all directions.


    If the heavens believed they could take his son without repercussions, Draphen would grow until none could stop him as he made his choice.


    He would be, what he wanted to be. After all he¡¯d lived through, the theft of his child to be used as a tool of fate was the last time he would allow powerful beings to control the direction of his life or any that he cared for.


    The prompt disappeared from his vision and he balled his fist. He wanted to curl into a ball and sleep, all while his unbridled rage manifested physically. An unmatched heat poured from his skin that emanated from deep green and blue flames.


    ¡°May your path be as endless as the skies and stars above, my son,¡± said Draphen while his internal flames ate away his skin and flesh. He¡¯d never made it through the effects of his curse without pure agony prior to his son being taken, but from that point on no pain could be felt more than what he¡¯d just experienced.


    His vision had been taken by his curse, a curse that could one day take his son¡¯s sight, but as the landscape caught fire around Draphen, the fire sight of the cursed dragons allowed him to see his surroundings, more and more while the heat and body of the flames grew.


    His body distorted. His bones broke and literal wings grew from his spine. Draphen became hysterical with laughter and rage as he pointed his maw upward the moment his dragon¡¯s lungs formed and his body finished extending.


    Rubble slid off his scaled features, and his wings snapped out to his sides. With his every breath his rage grew and so did his body. Heat built in his room sized chest and he opened his mouth.


    Flames like liquid sunlight geysered up toward the heavens and the sky itself seemed to catch fire. Draphen¡¯s roar before he took flight pained all nearby survivors who heard the cry. Only to be washed in flames the next moment by a building sized beast with a hundred foot wing span.


    Cultivator, became dragon, and the blind king of the CityNation of Aspire began his rampage across the lands,. In search of a boy who had been teleported far, far away, to an orphanage, a single day into the future.


    Hidden by the System as his son now was, none would find the boy for many season cycles. And while those who knew what occurred when he¡¯d been born may want to aid him, none who found him for season cycles to come would have the power to bring him home, as only he could rejoin his family.


    In fact, the system gave one last quest that day to a now abandoned boy as he lay on the steps of his new home. His eyes took in a sunset and the night¡¯s stars above as he began to fuss and draw in the attention of nearby children.


    A red box could be seen in his vision, lined in gold with a single sentence in its center.


    Find your family, they need you.


    As the boy cried the door was opened and a young girl with brown hair and multi colored eyes rushed out to pick him up. The girl smiled at the boy, and he stopped crying to look up at her.


    ¡°Hey you, let¡¯s get you to Momma Almarine, shouldn¡¯t be too hard to find a home for a cutie like you,¡± said the girl before she pinched the baby boy¡¯s nose and caused him to giggle. The two were off to find the orphan mother of the CityNation of Maelstrom, and the Life of Arson Omni began.


    ¡°Hey Momma Almarine, we got another Arson!¡±

 Chapter 1: There is no hiding the truth

    ¡°Yes, you over there,¡± said the teacher. She pointed at the seven year old Arson, who blushed as a large part of the much older class looked his way. He focused both on what he wanted to ask, as well as attempted to invoke a mature presence, even though he was still a kid.


    ¡°So, are we to say that it is our direct understanding of ourselves as much as Cultivation that determines our direct progress? Can that really be the only factor that limits us beside our body and soul,¡± asked Arson. The teacher sighed once more and turned back to the diagram she¡¯d drawn on the smart board for the class.


    ¡°Always return to your most basic fundamental,¡± said the elderly teacher. Arson had pushed the curriculum much further than the teacher had wanted for the first day of class, and Arson knew it. He didn¡¯t care, but he was still aware, and at least tried to make his passion for knowledge seem to be for the benefit of the entire class. Arson cut her off before she could once again repeat herself.


    ¡°Of course, Mind, Body, and Soul, but how does our own understanding of those aspects of Cultivation lead to the manifestation of our internal and external cores of power?¡± The teacher rolled her eyes.


    ¡°The way you speak, young man, is as if you believe that all who understand can become Cultivators, some with the largest understanding of Cultivation in the world have never manifested cores, others don¡¯t understand themselves enough, nor have enough extra soul energy to develop natural matter and element manipulation,¡± said the teacher. Arson opened his mouth to cut in and she raised her hand to stop him before she continued.


    ¡°I will give you an example, for my brother, his body naturally ran hotter than most, his eyes seemed to be naturally backlit with a flickering light, and his mind jumped from thought to thought only to capture everything it touched, any guesses?¡± Nearly the entire class yelled different variations of names for flame Cultivators, and the teacher nodded along.


    ¡°The problem for most of us is how we convolute the use of mana, while the actual use is truly instinctual at its base, Cultivation isn¡¯t being smart, healthy, or powerful by themselves, but all of them at once, to the best of your own abilities, you are a very intelligent young man, but I can tell you may never manifest your own cores if you continue to let your head get in the way, this is something for you to feel out, as well as think about and grow into.¡± The words sparked something and Arson closed his mouth for what the teacher felt to be the first time in the class. To her relief he stayed that way and had even closed his eyes in meditation; which allowed for her to return the class to a much more mundane topic.


    Meanwhile, Arson¡¯s mind raced. He felt it, not exactly how the teacher described it to him, but in his own way.


    ¡°You are a Cultivator Arson,¡± mumbled Arson to himself. The heat of the sun struck his face and his skin warmed. He smiled as the room¡¯s air conditioner blew a cool breeze on his face. The air further centered him and allowed him to deepen his concentration.


    While others would see these external stimuli as distractions, they only helped train Arson¡¯s focus. It wasn¡¯t hard for Arson to meditate while in the light of the sun or moon; he actually found it to be much more difficult to concentrate in dark places.


    So, where do I begin? Mind, right? Might as well go in order I guess¡­ Said Arson inwardly.


    Arson thought about his mind. He felt regular, but many proclaimed him to be intelligent. He also assumed his mind worked like everyone else¡¯s did, but begun to believe maybe that was his issue.


    A Cultivator¡¯s journey was never shared, mirrored or even mimicked, it was a person¡¯s thumbprint to godhood and more. It was meant to be personal, not even your own twin would be able to walk your path, or fit in the shoes you wore toward immortality.


    Arson¡¯s mind was like a vault. He actually imagined his mind to be that of a night sky, filled with stars. The more he learned, the more stars that he felt were added to the limitless canvas.


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    He¡¯d felt this way about his mind for as long as he could remember. Many would say that at the age of seven his memory wouldn¡¯t be very¡­ long, but Arson was mature for multiple reasons.


    Not only did he remember everything down to the way his doctor pulled him from his mother¡¯s body at birth, and the odd look on his mother¡¯s face when the woman showed him to her, but even his mother¡¯s raised hand was captured in film-like quality by his mind as she declined to hold him.


    Every waking moment had been stored in his mind for his own viewing ever since, and it was something Arson worried would change as he got older if he didn¡¯t become a Cultivator by puberty.


    There was no way a normal brain could continue to fill with everything it saw, heard, or experienced at a maximum capacity for very long, before the brain would either shut down or slow.


    Even still, Arson felt there was no limit to his mind¡¯s abilities. He felt his mind was that star filled sky that he imagined inside, so intimately in fact, that stars could literally be seen visibly projected in his irises.


    This was one of many reasons why he was accepted into a Cultivation school at the tender age of seven years old. Arson would have thought his near endless energy when in sun or moonlight would have been what attracted Cultivation schools, but apparently that trait was almost normal.


    Apparently, many could go without sleep if they were physically close to a potentially aligned element, or directly connected element to the Cultivators soul¡­ after a core set was manifested.


    The only thing Arson was unsure of was his soul. His foundation of power. The light within. The canvas of a Cultivator¡¯s path in which they were to paint reality in their own image.


    Arson felt his soul was powerful, but how to define the feeling was weird for Arson to describe. He mentally entered his soul space and took in the empty area. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t have a soul, but that it remained invisible to even a Cultivator until they manifested their core set.


    Even still, the energy within the space could be felt and made Arson smile. Inside his soul realm felt like the sun hitting your face on a winter day in the middle of a storm.


    The chill of freezing water ran down his spine, his skin prickled and the feeling extended further. He thought he heard someone speak his name momentarily, but ignored it as he felt different within his soul realm in that moment.


    It was as if the words of the teacher had unlocked a barrier that had separated Arson from something rather simple. He needed to balance how much he felt, and thought, instead of his previous singular focus, or tunnel vision.


    His breath evened out further, and his entire environment changed, as if Arson had somehow gained the ability to see in a pitch black room instantaneously.


    The feeling of the sun struck him first, and Arson watched as a swirl of golden white light swirled in a violent vortex in the center of the space, until a sun appeared around the vortex. Arson almost gasped, but knew that whatever process he¡¯d just initiated, needed his entire focus.


    He then concentrated on the feeling of the storm of chaotic energies he often felt. The tingle of sparks, the sensation of uncontrolled water, and even the frozen chill consumed him temporarily. Only for his soul realm to change again.


    A ring of frozen particles wrapped a perfect circle around the sun, and glimmered as it emitted a rolling fog filled with energy outward into Arson¡¯s soul realm.


    Arson was unaware of what he was doing, but he¡¯d stumbled across a technique for core manifestation, so old, it had never been given a name. Nor was it even seen as a realm of possible core creation in the modern era of technology and sciences.


    When the ring stopped its outward expansion, the sun at its center began to interact with the cloud of frozen energy particles. The sun shot light from its own tendrils as they twirled in constant motion around the sun, only for the light to twist through the cloud at alarming speeds.


    Then the energy formed some sort of golden white ball of lightning within the sun¡¯s ring before it expelled it to orbit around the outside of the cloud of particles. The ball of lightning was somehow frozen, yet still managed to flicker like sparks, which confused Arson. But the sun continued to spit light and more and more of the balls of frozen lightning were formed and seemingly stored, just outside the ring to orbit the sun as well.


    The process stopped after three balls were formed and Arson felt there was nothing more he could do. So he took another deep breath and finally opened his eyes.


    When he looked around he found his entire classroom was staring. Staring, as a collective group, huddled in a corner, across the room.


    Desks were turned over. Some of the ceiling lights exploded, and somehow the teacher¡¯s smart board had detached entirely from the wall and now sat folded in half over the teacher¡¯s desk.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Arson looked around in confusion, until he found the eyes of the teacher.


    She¡¯d ducked behind her desk during whatever had occurred, and now only stared just above Arson¡¯s head.


    When Arson looked up to see what the teacher was looking at, he saw it. A golden white crown made out of light, sparks, and frozen particles that floated above his head like a halo. It wasn¡¯t until he looked at the crown that the red frame popped up in his vision, which he read aloud in a daze.


    ¡°Welcome to the system of creation and destruction, or the world of mana, magic, and energy Cultivation, Arson Omni¡­¡± Arson didn¡¯t finish reading but looked at the teacher instead. The teacher still staring.


    ¡°Hey thanks, guess you were right, I do think too much.¡±

 Chapter 2: The Heir to Omnipotence

    The head of Arson¡¯s orphanage had been in his principal¡¯s office for hours now. Arson¡¯s partial core formation had caused quite a stir for multiple reasons.


    The first was that he managed to do it so young. Only the most honor born families within the nation had children manifest cores before the age of 13, and only 11 known families had managed to achieve the same feat before the age of 11. The 10 noble houses, and the royal family itself.


    Secondly, was the issue of Arson¡¯s crown. Internal cores, had external manifestations. A creation of matter that was both the embodiment of a Cultivator¡¯s will, formed through matter manipulation into reality.


    The problem was that Arson¡¯s was a crown. Many had crowns as a symbol of their power, but normally only one individual per family line received a crown. It was the System¡¯s way of designation to a family¡¯s true heir.


    Arson hadn¡¯t even known his own last name until the prompt when he partially formed his core informed him that he¡¯d finally joined the world of Uni-Vare, or mana. He was the son of a queen, and nothing could change that.


    ¡°So you throw the boy out!¡± His Orphan Mother¡¯s voice could be heard through the walls and Arson winced. There was no way the school would let him stay now. The size of the scandal that would most likely erupt if and when this information became public knowledge, would shake the very foundation of the society they lived in.


    The royal family had six children already, which maxed out their family size at eight. The problem was that none of those six children had received a crown as their core symbol, and now Arson had, after being disowned by law.


    He had no tie to the family, excluding blood, nor would he be allowed to lead his family into the next generation by law, even though the crown pretty much declared that he was the one fated to do so.


    Arson didn¡¯t care about royal families, ruling nations, nor what he was expected to do. He wanted to do one thing, and one thing alone. Cultivate.


    He wiped tears from his eyes, closed them and concentrated a moment. When he opened his eyes again his System overlay appeared and words filled his vision. He finished the rest of the prompt aloud to tone out the yells from the next room.


    ¡°As a Cultivator, you will have many choices to make, first though you must complete your core construction process, your bloodline has granted you the trinity core, a core for each piece of yourself, mind, body and soul¡± When Arson finished the box, another popped up, and he read.


    ¡°Core completion process 66%, complete, Soul core 100%, Body core, 50%, Mind core, 50%, follow the lines of power to complete the construction of your trinity core.¡±


    Not knowing what else to do, and still being plagued by the nearby argument, he decided to meditate.


    His ability to clear his mind was unrivaled for someone his age, but not seen as a particularly unachievable skill to gain for a Cultivator, at any age.


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    He once more entered his soul realm and looked around. The sun and frozen particle storm around it still remained. Three orbs of frozen lightning orbited the structure in a triangle formation.


    Arson smiled and felt the energy wash over his entire being. It was just as he began to look around, that he noticed a solid string of light that shot from the apex of the sun directly into the void above, but before he could begin to explore further, two things happened simultaneously.


    The void all around his soul core, filled with stars. His stars, the stars that symbolized his every memory, thought, and even every grain of information that his brain stored; a split second before a hand landed on his shoulder.


    ¡°Woah there, bud, it¡¯s just me.¡± Arson opened his eyes to see Almarine his Orphan Mother.


    ¡°Are we leaving now?¡± asked Arson. Tears rolled free of his eyes as he tried to smile back up at the woman. She nodded and looked away as her eyes watered.


    The walk back to the orphanage was slow and silent, but Arson was able to look over more of the overlay¡¯s option windows and menus. He currently had empty core, skills, and craft tabs. As well as a status screen that showed him everything about himself.


    His height, age, name, both first and last, which was hard for him to get used to, and his stats.


    Arson found what he saw on that screen to be odd and not at all what he expected. Instead of the renowned stats, such as strength, vitality, dexterity, agility, wisdom, intelligence, and spirit, there was only three options.


    Weapon: 1, Armor: 1, and System: 1. These were the only three options Arson had to choose from, and a section that showed his available stats, which read +3. Arson knew for a fact that a Cultivator was also supposed to only start out with 0 in every category, where Arson had 1. He didn¡¯t know what that meant and wished he could ask his teacher tomorrow in school. A chance he would never get.


    The large, yet dilapidated building came into view and Arson felt good to be home at last. His first day at school, was long, and also his last day at school. He was excited to get into bed after all the crying he¡¯d done exhausted him.


    Where are we going?¡± asked Arson when Almarine headed passed the main entrance and toward the large manor behind the orphanage.


    ¡°You can¡¯t stay with the non-Cultivator children anymore Arson, we have to get a key to the manor for you, and find a work duty to pay for your housing fees. You¡¯re considered an adult by law now.¡± Arson¡¯s stomach dropped, and he stumbled slightly. Almarine didn¡¯t dare look at the boy as his tears started once more. She felt a true pain in the silence of his crying, and wanted to be able to find sleep that night, so she joined him in that moment.


    ¡°Might as well get it out now,¡± mumbled Almarine. Arson wiped away his tears as he looked at the woman.


    ¡°Get what out?¡±


    ¡°Nothing boy¡­now think about the jobs you¡¯ve heard the others talk about and tell me what you want to do,¡± responded Almarine with a sniffle, as if she needed to clear her throat.


    ¡°Are you ok Ms. Mary, you don¡¯t sound good. You haven¡¯t been smoking again, have you?¡±


    ¡°No, I have not, child. Now mind your own, and tell me what you want to do with your time, within reason.¡±


    ¡°You know me Ms. Mary, I¡¯d love to work in the library or gym, but know that the spaces are already taken, makes me feel like I should go work at the junkyard dump, at least I know its available and I won¡¯t be bored to death while I try and get into another school,¡± declared Arson. He spoke as he thought and the words felt right to him, and he felt a buzz of energy fill his chest. As if his soul wasn¡¯t enough of a sign, Almarine¡¯s nod, confirmed his decision for him.


    They entered the manor and Arson was shocked at how nice the inside of the home was. The orphanage had made him accustomed to a life without space, or any kind of amenities. While this place, had room for him to grow.


    Almarine gave him a key after they¡¯d entered her home office, and a sheet of paper with the name of the person to report to for his new work duties.


    ¡°There is only one room left, and you have to share it with a girl named Troy, she is in her final year before she leaves to find a home of her own, so respect her orders. It¡¯s been her space alone for four years, so also respect her space and privacy.¡± Arson nodded in response and made his way up one side of the twin arching staircases that led to the upper floors.


    He then had to take an elevator to the seventh floor and make his way down another few hallways before he found room 1107 and used his keycard to enter.


    ¡°Hello, Troy, my name is Arson and I¡­¡± Arson stopped talking when he made eye contact with the girl he¡¯d caught in the middle of climbing out of a window.


    ¡°am your new roommate,¡± finished Arson as his voice cracked and the door shut behind him.


    ¡°Hmmm, ok, you coming?¡±

 Chapter 3: A Life Anew

    ¡°Coming where?¡± asked Arson. Troy just rolled her eyes and smiled.


    ¡°Asking too many questions isn¡¯t going to put you in my good graces, nor get you any friends if you come with me. So are you or not? If not, just leave my sparking things alone and we¡¯ll be just fine.¡±


    ¡°Ok,¡± said Arson. He accepted the fact that the girl didn¡¯t want her things touched. It was a trait of all the kids that grew up in the orphanage, but Troy mistook his acceptance of this for eagerness to come along.


    ¡°Well then, hold my bag until we get there, this thing is heavy and you look like you need some physical training.¡± Troy dropped the bag and it hit the ground like a bag of bricks. Arson tried to explain himself, but Troy was already making her way down the fire escape at full speed.


    Arson made his way over to the bag and struggled to lift it, and momentarily wondered if it was actually a bag full of bricks. Before he could manage to say a word about not going, the girl was already yelling about how slow he moved and how much they had to get done.


    Arson fell on his face after he barely managed to pull the backpack through the window. He cursed as he rose to his feet and thanked the Maiden that moonlight filled him with energy. He normally only needed three hours of sleep a night to be fully satiated, but with how much the moonlight seemed to thrum with power as it touched his skin and filled his body, he wondered if even that would still be necessary.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to become a lot faster if you''re going to work for me, kid.¡± Troy turned and walked off before Arson could once again attempt to hand her the bag. He rushed after her near seven foot frame, as his five foot stature needed to run as she merely walked fast.


    ¡°What do you mean work for you?¡±


    ¡°As my corner kid, I don¡¯t have time to explain, I¡¯m almost late for my first bout of the night and don¡¯t want to pay fees. Come on!¡± Arson and Troy ran. It got to the point that Arson was almost half a block behind Troy as she walked. He knew she could run and probably make it on time, but appreciated that she waited on him.


    At first he¡¯d been angry that she pretty much assumed he wanted to come and pulled him along. Then he realized he might be about to witness his first live fight with Cultivators and decided not to complain. Instead, he ran until he wheezed and his mouth was dry to the point he felt his lips would fall off his face.


    After an entire hour of winding paths and seemingly endless sprinting, they stopped at the front of a dirty nightclub named, The Mana Well.


    ¡°Come on, kid!¡±


    They rushed through the back door and into a locker room. Troy signaled for her bag and told Arson to turn around as she changed.


    Before he knew it, he followed Troy into an area with a circular arena surrounded on all sides by fans. Across from the side they entered on was another young man that seemed to be Troy¡¯s age, accompanied by an older gentlemen that analyzed Troy¡¯s physique and whispered in the boy¡¯s ear.


    ¡°What am I supposed to do, that guy seems to be breaking you down for your opponent, he thinks you don¡¯t have any fundamental training, probably rely on kicks far too much, and wants that guy to feint often before he sweeps your legs,¡± said Arson as he read the man¡¯s lips from across the stage. Troy froze in her warm up and looked back at Arson.


    ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°Same way I know that bartender keeps lying about the price of drinks to people, I can read lips,¡± said Arson. Troy nodded and smiled.


    ¡°Looks like you might be a valuable corner to have. What else is he saying?¡±


    ¡°Something about stick to the plan, end her career tonight, if she has no legs, she can¡¯t come back and beat you in the tournament next month,¡± said Arson. Troy laughed and nodded once more.


    ¡°Thanks kid. What¡¯s your name anyway?¡±


    ¡°Arson, nice to meet you Troy,¡± said Arson as he stuck out a hand. The girl lowered her hood for the first time and Arson was struck by how beautiful she was.


    Incredible dirty blonde curls framed what Arson thought to be perfection carved around heterochromatic eyes, one green and the other blue.


    ¡°Nice to meet you kid, now grab a bucket and fill it with water, find a rag in case there is blood and if you can manage to find an extra pair of hand wraps before the match begins shortly, bring them back here ASAP.¡± Arson nodded and was on the move. It didn¡¯t take him long to find the bucket, nor the rag, but the wraps proved impossible so Arson returned before the match had a chance to begin.


    Troy bounced throughout the ring, and performed a dazzling amount of aerial kicks and flips to put an emphasis on her kickboxing prowess. Arson smiled as he felt she knew what she was doing after a moment of thought, as he had warned her.


    ¡°Ok folks, this is the one we¡¯ve been waiting for, it may not be the main event but we all know who this is, make some noise for¡­ The Queen of Troy!¡± The crowd erupted and Arson clapped as Troy flipped around the ring.


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    ¡°Across from her we have the unrivaled prodigy, Lucas the Elemental!¡± The crowd once again erupted into celebration over the match and Arson managed to boo Troy¡¯s opponent. The young man bobbed in place and kept his eyes on Troy at all times.


    Then the match began and Arson¡¯s life was changed forever. He¡¯d seen many Cultivator fights online, but this experience for him was paramount.


    ¡°Beat the sparks off him, Troy!¡± Arson looked around after he cursed and realized any adult that heard him, supported him rather than scorned his use of profanity.


    Troy moved like a shadow, or flickering light. Arson couldn¡¯t tell what happened as the girl moved, but he knew more was behind how quickly she bobbed and weaved through Lucas¡¯s attacks than the average person¡¯s eye could catch.


    ¡°He¡¯s scared, push ¡®im, woman!¡± Arson yelled his lungs out while Troy boxed her opponent to the edge of the ring. Her opponent was not doing well and it was obvious. Troy hadn¡¯t thrown a single kick the entire match and Lucas now paid for his coaches assumptions.


    ¡°Sparks! That looked like it hurt!¡± Lucas slowly came to his feet and roared after Troy hit him square in his jaw line so many times Arson knew he had to be a Cultivator. Regular people would have been either asleep on their feet or dead after the amount of savage hits the young man took.


    His entire body lit with flames and Troy grinned as if she was waiting for this moment. Arson couldn¡¯t see anything but excitement on her features as she raised her hands again.


    Before Lucas could charge her, the bell rang and the first round ended. Troy walked over to Arson and she smiled.


    ¡°Thanks kid. That fool watched my legs so hard, I almost punched his sparking eye out of its socket,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°No problem, from what I can tell, they are assuming that you are going to come in kicking this round and they will be able to counter you with a lightning slap, or clap, can¡¯t quite tell on that one,¡± said Arson with a shrug.


    ¡°Wipe me down and give me some water, wait, are you saying these idiots are about to do the same thing as last round?¡± Arson laughed and nodded.


    ¡°Seems like it, if you see an early sweep, crush em, the first one is fake,¡± Troy grinned like a devil and Arson tried not to match hersneer.


    The second round began and Troy was in the air with a head kick long before she closed in. Arson smiled as he felt he knew what her plan was. She initiated with a kick, to let her opponent feel his plan would work this time, while she simultaneously closed the distance.


    Then, Troy threw a whole bunch of punches. Arson winced as Lucas came off the ground after a particularly gruesome uppercut. His body caught flames, only for them to be snuffed out by a combo of body strikes.


    Then Troy swept the leg, Lucas found himself finally being kicked more than any person should deserve in a single lifetime for any crime Arson knew of, and before the match could end another bell rang.


    ¡°What¡¯s the scoop kid,¡± said Troy as she approached.


    ¡°I have no idea, the old man has his mouth covered so I¡¯m only getting half of the plan really, something about shoot far, then charge close, I don¡¯t know what the sparks that means,¡± said Arson with a smile.


    ¡°Me either. Maybe a ranged attack before a movement skill, seems like a lot of mana for his level though?¡± asked Troy, but Arson felt the question was more her own hypothesis, rather than something for him to give his input on. Regardless, he spoke up.


    ¡°He¡¯s all flash, he¡¯s caught on fire for flair twice now, and he¡¯s called Lucas of the Elements, he can¡¯t be all fire right, I suggest go big or go home, you got five rounds, end it in the third with something flashy of your own, this kid is garbage,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°You say that kiddo, but I¡¯ve lost 11 times prior to him, he always outthinks me, for the first time I feel confident in a way that I haven¡¯t before, so for that I appreciate you, little man, and I think I will take your advice and put it all on the line,¡± said Troy as she came to her feet. In that moment, Arson felt like he mattered. After using one of the many skills he¡¯d gained that some called useless or childish, he¡¯d helped someone. Yet another factor that solidified the importance of the night for Arson.


    ¡°Beat the spark plugs off him, Troy!¡± Arson yelled in the silence before the match started and the crowd erupted into laughter. Troy only closed her eyes and rolled her neck. She waited until the bell rang to take her stance.


    A bolt of lightning snapped out of the air above Troy and she had already moved out of the way with the slightest step forward. She dodged the bolt entirely and Lucas was caught off guard by a completely ready Troy, who capitalized on his forward momentum and his shock.


    The spin kick that Troy delivered was beautiful. Not only did she manage to time her kick perfectly at Lucas¡¯s jaw, she¡¯d somehow cloned herself.


    A mirrored projection of hardened light both formed and performed an identical kick to Troy. Two heels slammed into Lucas¡¯s face at one time, and Arson saw the young man lose consciousness.


    Arson felt like he¡¯d captured the entire fight in his mind and a new star would be able to be visited in his mind as he jumped in celebration with the rest of the crowd around him.


    Troy ran over to him and gave him a high five. The two danced with the nearby crowd, and Troy then led Arson out of the room.


    ¡°Then you kicked his leg out from under him and I thought it was over, not going to lie, I think they ended the second round early to keep Lucas in the fight longer, I heard someone say something about betting odds being real bad if he lost in the second round or whatever that means,¡± said Arson as they entered the locker room. They spoke on the fight, and Troy thanked Arson over and over for his assistance, which made him excited to come to her next fight. He hoped she would allow for him to come again, and was about to ask when a knock came on the door.


    ¡°Yo, Troy my Queen, I got your winnings and an offer my dear.¡± A man walked in the room and Arson scowled and raised his arms wide to try and cover the view toward Troy as she changed.


    ¡°Yeah, Seven, what kind of deal?¡± asked Troy, apparently unfazed by the man¡¯s entry.


    ¡°Down, boy,¡± said Troy as she finished up and walked toward the man named Seven.


    ¡°I think you will love it, how does 1500 credits a fight sound?¡± said Seven. Arson felt Troy about to accept, excitement in her eyes and the moment froze for Arson.


    An image of the crowd popped into his mind, and he counted the occupancy. Followed by the cost of Drinks on the board above the bar. The entry fee sign at the front door, and the minimum bet the house allowed per match, and cut in before Troy could accept.


    ¡°Spark no! Get out of her face with such a garbage offer! She just beat an elite and you know it. I bet you would even try to sign her at that pitiful amount too, wouldn¡¯t you? Considering how much you¡¯re going to make with a powerful female fighter.¡± The room was silent. Troy couldn¡¯t believe that Arson would turn down what she believed to be such a large amount of money, while Seven couldn¡¯t believe a kid was the one to point out how small an amount it truly was.


    ¡°Well I mean, I am allowed to offer a little more per fight I guess,¡± said Seven. Arson nodded and Troy¡¯s entire demeanor shifted. Those words weren¡¯t what she expected to hear, not for a second.


    ¡°Let me guess, anything she doesn¡¯t push for, you get to keep right, well let me tell you something buddy, with a house capacity of 10 thousand, and entry price of 100 credits per person, anywhere from 3 to 4 drinks per person with an average drink cost of 50 credits, the millions your people are getting for her fights won¡¯t keep coming if we advertise at different arenas, right¡­?¡± Arson let his words hang for a moment as Seven did the math himself, and Arson wondered if he began to contemplate his own pay.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah, kid name your price,¡± said Seven.


    ¡°100k a fight for as long as she wins, with a 10k credit pay cut for every loss, or 10k pay increase for every win when her rate is below 100k, consecutive victories have a 15k pay increase, but she still caps out at 100k a fight, and we all renegotiate in a year,¡± said Arson. He guessed on the averages prominent fighters were paid and shot for the stars, only to realize in the end, he could have shot higher.


    ¡°Hmmm, not bad kid, looks like I will only make a few hundred thousand a fight off getting her under contract, but credits add up.¡± Troy dropped her jaw in surprise and Seven left without another word.


    ¡°I was going to take pocket change for fights, kid, and I would have been happy,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Yeah, but 100k isn¡¯t really a lot of credits, especially with how long it may take you to recoup after each fight,¡± said Arson. It wasn¡¯t until that moment that Troy truly took in Arson. She looked at him from head to toe and frowned.


    ¡°Hey, is your crown real?¡±

 Chapter 4: How Could You Possibly Know?

    Arson sat on the fire escape of the manor and watched the sunset. His night had been long, but he still felt ready for the day. He listened to music as he kicked up his feet and planned his day.


    Even as he thought of what was next, his mind drifted toward the previous night. His conversation with Troy about his crown. His realization that he probably didn¡¯t or wouldn¡¯t need sleep for a very long time. As well as a handful of other things his status had no current explanation for.


    Troy hadn¡¯t seen Arson¡¯s crown until Seven had left the locker room. Arson was confused and almost passed it off as coincidence, until he thought about how Troy had analyzed her opponent in the ring. A detail like a floating crown wouldn¡¯t have been missed by her, and she said as much.


    After a few moments of awkward silence, and some mental prods at what Arson felt to be his connection with his half formed core. Troy noted that she could no longer see it.


    ¡°Was little Arson maybe shy and didn¡¯t want me to see his new giant sparking crown? I mean, I can¡¯t blame you, it¡¯s cool as sparks but seriously intimidating to look at,¡± said Troy in an attempt to joke. Arson didn¡¯t take the joke well, and he made it disappear.


    He left it invisible as far as he knew, and then found it in his soul realm. Just above the sun at the center.


    It wasn¡¯t until he decided to meditate on the balcony after Troy fell asleep that he didn¡¯t feel quite right. It wasn¡¯t until his crown was touched once again by the light of the sun and stars that he felt what he assumed to be his new normal. Wide awake and with the sensation to work on something.


    So instead of procrastination, he chose proactivity. He got to his feet and rolled his eyes as a dozen of Almarine¡¯s famous quotes ran through his head.


    ¡°Procrasti what, not in this nation!¡± Arson laughed to himself as he made his way down the fire escape, and then further when the quote could be heard repeated throughout the grounds of the orphanage.


    He smiled to himself as he made his way even further out of town and toward the junkyard dump. The city of Maelstroms very own combination, junkyard, and dump.


    Arson honestly chose the job because nobody ever did and he wanted to know why. He had heard rumors that the place was haunted, among other things. None of which he believed, but he would find out he supposed. Even more, he felt oddly¡­ excited?


    ¡°Hello?¡± Arson made his way into the dump and had to traverse a few kilometers of random waste heaps before he found the entrance to the junkyard and a large warehouse like building.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Who are you,¡± said a voice just behind Arson. He jumped as he turned around to see a woman with long white hair, and a tattoo of mythical birds that looked lifelike as they seemed to fly around her arm, shoulder and neck. There was even a dragon that spit flames onto her face. Each piece its own complete artwork.


    ¡°I am here to work the job offered, I don¡¯t know what exactly it entails, but I am willing to try if you are willing to train me, my name is Arson, it¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± Arson stuck out his hand and they shook.


    ¡°My name has changed many times, but you may call me by my title, Jade.¡± Arson felt a star light within his soul realm and he made note to visit whatever memory seemed to flare up when the woman introduced herself.


    ¡°You seem familiar, do I know you from somewhere,¡± said Arson. Jade shook her head and sighed.


    ¡°It¡¯s a common name now kid, don¡¯t think about it too much,¡± said Jade. Arson shrugged at the woman and followed as she turned to walk away. It was quite a while of roaming and aimless wandering before Arson felt he needed to speak up.


    ¡°Hey Jade, what am I supposed to be doing exactly?¡±


    ¡°We are almost there,¡± responded Jade. Not much longer and they arrived at a massive hole.


    The hole was surrounded on all sides by massive mountains of trash and debris. It was also so large neither the opposing side, nor the base of the hole could be seen. The smell that emanated from the entire place was unrivaled, but the hole itself seemed to spit miasma like fumes into the air, made visible by the density of trash and the sun¡¯s heat. Arson looked over to Jade as the woman shook her head in obvious displeasure.


    ¡°Our city has found things as marvelous as endless energy to power itself, water systems to cleanse the most contaminated liquids, and some can even extend their lives outside of cultivation, but trash is still trash, and no one sees the taint we leave behind to grow powerful, while our foundations erode from underneath us.¡± Arson wished he completely understood what the woman implied, but still tried to interact with the woman. He didn¡¯t care much for trash, but he guessed that, that was exactly Jade¡¯s point. No one did and that was the problem.


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    ¡°Makes me wish a strong cultivator would just come and wipe all the trash away, give us more room to grow, right?¡± His comment made Jade laugh, but Arson didn¡¯t know why she laughed so hard.


    ¡°Ahh, thank you for that kid, makes me feel young again, but even if that were to happen, how do you think it would occur, incineration, disintegration, teleportation maybe?¡± Arson looked around and shrugged once more.


    ¡°I¡¯d probably choose disintegration, flames mean more fumes and ash will spread, while teleportation doesn¡¯t really fix the problem, rather it makes it someone else¡¯s problem, not like we could recycle everything here, right?¡±


    Jade didn¡¯t respond for a very long time. So long in fact that Arson began to believe he¡¯d said something that may have been unchallenged when it came to idiocy. Then jade spoke up.


    ¡°Disintegration in this situation is nearly as bad as flames or teleportation, it was tried and this is what occurred,¡± said Jade with a point toward the giant hole.


    ¡°The amount of power and accuracy it would take to clean this entire area would require near divine intervention, so instead of fixing the problem, we patch it over and create new problems,¡± said Jade. A shovel appeared in her hand from literal thin air and she handed it to Arson.


    And so the first day of his job went. Arson shoveled piles of garbage into the giant hole, attached to mountain climbing gear Jade left him with. Apparently the reason no one worked at the place anymore was due to a handful of workers disappearing after they fell into the hole. Arson felt bad for the loss of life, but raked in the benefits of being paid an entire crews pay. He made over 25k in credits on his first day.


    The shovel he used to work was equipped with a sort of scale that could monitor how much weight was lifted, which determined his pay. Jade seemed surprised to find him still deep in his work each time she arrived to check on him. She assumed he would quit and she would return to find an abandoned shovel, only to come back each time with a more and more excited Arson.


    ¡°This place is a sparking treasure trove!¡± Jade¡¯s eyes widened at Arson¡¯s words.


    ¡°I have been here a long time Arson, and I believe that is the first time I have ever heard those words,¡± said Jade.


    ¡°I have found cultivation manuals from before the ban on higher learning without mentorship, slightly damaged weapons and armor, literal sparking mana cores, noble clothing, dirty yes, but what were washing machines made for if not dirt,¡± said Arson. He held up a mana core the size of his fist, that didn¡¯t seem to be empty at all, and pointed toward a pile of goods he¡¯d planned on asking Jade for.


    ¡°I see. if you sell me the mana cores you find, I don¡¯t mind you keeping the things you find and want to keep,¡± said Jade. The request struck Arson as wrong somehow. A full mana core should be a rare find in a place like this, but from Jade¡¯s words, she didn¡¯t seem to think so. Also, she¡¯d said ¡°sell¡± as in for credits or maybe something as mutually beneficial?


    ¡°That sounds fair I guess, but with you already paying me for my time, don¡¯t I technically owe you the cores anyway?¡± Jade shook her head before she responded.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here for more than 16 hours kid, you technically only owe me 1 shift a day, three or 4 times a week until you are 18 or get another job, and a single shift is 4 hours,¡± said Jade.


    Arson smiled as he realized he didn¡¯t have to work a single second more if he didn¡¯t want to that week,. Then his mind did the math on how many hours he owed the woman and immediately wanted to know more.


    ¡°2292 hours owed, minus the few I worked today I guess. Are there any restrictions on how many hours I can work a week? Also if I complete those hours early, does that mean my room and board are paid for until I¡¯m 18 and I can still look for another occupation? How exactly am I being funded?¡± Arson would have asked all dozen questions on his mind all at once if Jade hadn¡¯t spoken up.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care how quickly you complete the hours owed. That may matter at other jobs tied to the orphanage, but not here, once your hours are clocked, they are paid for. I¡¯ll give you 50k credits for every mana core you find that size or slightly larger, and higher depended on how big you can find ¡®em.¡± Arson looked at the core for only a second before he tossed the glowing white orb to the woman.


    ¡°Is there any chance I could turn some of that credit money into a sort of food allowance, I¡¯ve gotten hungry out here and know it will be a regular thing,¡± asked Arson. Jade only smiled at first, before she asked,


    ¡°How much of your budget do you want to use per core,¡± asked Jade. Then Arson¡¯s stomach rumbled so loud that he felt his cheek burn with embarrassment.


    ¡°Come on kid, let¡¯s go eat.¡±


    So they did. Jade took Arson to the inside of the large warehouse he¡¯d seen on his way to the hole and was shocked to find it empty.


    Before Arson¡¯s very eyes an entire home appeared from thin air as Jade swept her hand in a random direction. She walked up the stairs and through the front door. Arson almost didn¡¯t follow her inside, but she¡¯d left the door open, and he heard her obviously sit down in a chair nearby.


    When he walked inside he found Jade in front of a full table of what seemed to be a feast. A level of quality entirely unknown to Arson.


    ¡°Hurry up and eat before it gets cold, I don¡¯t like it when people eat my food and it isn¡¯t how was meant to be experienced.¡± Arson quickly sat down as the woman kicked her feet up onto the table.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t more people work here if you can pay so much for the cores you think are out there?¡± Arson¡¯s question was the first sound other than eating in the room and it took a moment for Jade to speak.


    ¡°Because of many factors, the smell, the physical labor, no one other than people who work for me know about the cores, amongst other things.¡±


    ¡°Am I to assume you want it to stay that way?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care either way, nothing you say or do will threaten my ownership of this place, and I only value the cores due to a promise I made to an old friend, not for personal use.¡± Arson thought to himself and nodded. The beginnings of a plan boiled in the back of his mind, but he would need a lot of help, and didn¡¯t know why he felt the sudden urge to step in to fix the problem his city faced. Trash.


    Trash wasn¡¯t a physical source for him to battle and grow in cultivation, but it was enough of an economic and environmental issue that Arson felt it worthy of a longterm goal, he wanted to clean his realm and make it beautiful, and he felt trash was a good place to start.


    ¡°I want to help out around here, and I don¡¯t know exactly where to start, but I have a few ideas that with time I think could solve the issue of the lack of workers that work for you, the low income base for the orphans of Maelstrom, and maybe even the abundance of trash that is only going to grow.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t get in your way, child. Just make sure that you don¡¯t forget to work your mandatory hours each week, it doesn¡¯t matter if you work 100 hours this week until you are paid off you have a three hour a week minimum that cannot be missed, so no weeklong vacations,¡± said Jade. Arson smiled as they both sat back stuffed. Arson groaned as he came to his feet, and Jade stared at him quizzically before she spoke up.


    ¡°Headed home?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± said Arson as he lifted his shovel and headed toward the front door.


    ¡°See you in the morning,¡± said Arson with a wave, but then he froze in the doorway and looked back at the woman.


    ¡°There will be breakfast if I work through the night, right?¡±

 Chapter 5: When Speaking Too Soon

    Arson hid on the top of a trash mountain and took back every word he spoke about trash being a non threat. As he looked around and saw discarded living armors battle each other, broken magical weapons without wielders cause chaos and even ghost battle in the anarchy below him, he knew.


    ¡°This is why people don¡¯t work here, who cares about sparking smells and mana cores when this is your work environment.


    Everything had gone fine at first. He¡¯d even managed to find another core. Then the sun set and all sparks surged loose in the dump, and Arson even got a prompt for being in the area after sundown.


    ¡°The affinities of the Uni-Vare can be touched through the stars at night, and nothing in this lifetime will experience more wasted potential than an item once used, then cast aside, by both the weak, and the powerful. This karmic energy has created a domain of resurrection that is powered at night and silent under the sun¡¯s grace. Be wary young Arson, the portal is open and mana thrums dangerously around you. Can you survive the night?¡± Arson didn¡¯t know what to do. He lay there terrified, and wished that he¡¯d left the first chance he¡¯d had.


    He clutched the mana core he¡¯d found and tried to meditate. The vibration in his hand made him calm slightly and he took deep breaths.


    He felt that he would have to get rid of the core soon as something told him it was why there were more creatures near the base of his trash mountain than others. Then Arson¡¯s mind set fire and he sat upright and looked around.


    In the moment of inspiration he had no fear. He merely looked around to search for what he thought was a hidden boon within all the chaos.


    More mountains in the distance had groups around them, some larger or smaller than the groups near Arson. They all battled for some reason, or some thing, and once again his mind flickered toward the mana core he held.


    ¡°Is knowing really worth 50k though,¡± said Arson as he cocked his arm back to throw. The white orb soared into the crowd at first and Arson was saddened that nothing changed.


    Then Arson was forced to duck down once more, as an entire crowd of robots burst free of an adjacent hill. The group exited the trash heap and fired on anything that moved. Arson thought that this would end the nearby battle, but then the sword came.


    A weapon that looked to be made of pure white marble and etched with diamonds swept down from above and cut the entire group in half. All that remained was dead robots and half crushed living armors.


    The coast was clear, but Arson didn¡¯t know how long that would last. So he rushed and retrieved the mana core. He even managed to strike a ghost as its ectoplasm used a living armor to reform itself. He swung with his shovel on pure instinct and was rewarded by his first ever bit of experience and prompt.


    ¡°You have killed ectoplasmic armor level 0.1, do you want to gain stats or experience?¡± Both the words Stats and Experience were highlighted in white gold and Arson chose stats before he rushed back up the mountain of trash he hid on originally. He¡¯d heard a noise and didn¡¯t want to get caught by whatever he¡¯d heard. So he hadn¡¯t truly taken the time to consider his choice entirely.


    Then Arson¡¯s worst fear occurred. A living armor landed nearby and Arson knew this was not trash, nor could it ever be called trash.


    The armor was absolutely beautiful. Arson couldn¡¯t tell if he looked at ancient shogunate armor or a mech suit. Then scattered bits of metal, mana, and a weird white fog that reminded Arson of the frozen particles in his soul realm, was sucked into the opened mask of the suit.


    Arson burned the memory into his mind as the suit took off into the sky in a burst of speed using dazzling white wings that contrasted the all black armor.


    ¡°Where the sparks am I right now¡­¡±


    More time passed and Arson grew angry that he¡¯d ended up in not only an immediately life threatening position, but he now also wasted time. Something he prided himself in not being a part of, ever.


    So Arson meditated through the fear; sounds of violence around him, and even another trash heap¡¯s complete obliteration.


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    All that was left in the distance, was an area that was left looking as if someone dumped a giant trash bag on the ground.


    Then Arson remembered his overlay. He felt like an idiot for not checking his status sooner, but he had lived his entire life without one,.


    Since then, he¡¯d been constantly assaulted with new experiences, after he managed to luckily become a Cultivator, and somehow gained a lot more freedom after being kicked out of school which made him wonder if he was going to be a lot more busy now that he was one.


    The window opened to show his stats page. The only thing different than the last time he saw the page, was the slot that read available stat points. It now read, 3.2 instead of 3.0.


    Arson looked at his three options once more and frowned. He still had no clue what, Weapon, Armor, and System actually correlated to in the cultivation world. Nor had he ever heard of them being options for stat allocation.


    Weapon, sounded as if it was going to maybe be a conglomeration of his offensive stats. While Armor could be defensive and maybe vitality, or regenerative stats. This left him to assume that System had to be mana based in nature. He put a point into weapon, and was immediately proved wrong in his conclusions.


    ¡°Sparks¡­¡± A window with seven offensive options popped up and Arson was shocked to see his allotted choices.


    ¡°Spark bolt: this lance of lightning does minimal damage at lower levels, but can both grow through use and the understanding of light or lightning based properties of Uni-Vare.


    Gravity pulse: this basic snap of force has the strength of a punch, and knocks back any prey weak enough to be subjected to the dome it creates. Force emitted and area of domes size is increased with both level and gained knowledge on space & time properties of Uni-Vare.


    Wind clouds: these three clouds orbit the Cultivator and shoot compressed gusts of wind at targets for as long as the ability is channeled. Movement while casting increases the mana cost. Strength of strikes and mana cost are both increased and decreased prospectively, based on the Cultivator¡¯s understanding of mana control and the wind properties of Uni-Vare.¡±


    Arson was shaken by those choices alone. He almost chose wind clouds immediately but knew he needed to look at all of his options, even if he felt like he was under pressure. He only got to make the choice of his first skill, once, and if he was going to be in this kind of environment regularly, he wanted to be prepared.


    ¡°Aura of light: This allows the Cultivator to increase their regeneration passively for both life force and mana can increase the rate of generation by expanding your understanding of the light, healing, and aura based properties of Uni-Vare.


    Beam of frost: this channeled beam of cold may take long to freeze an object but has an effect that increases the damage taken by ice over time, a relatively low mana cost and can be used easily while in motion. Effects intensify by increasing your understanding of cold, and water based properties of Uni-Vare.


    Conductive waters: this orb of water will not electrify your enemy, but is filled with the power of the sun¡¯s energy, so instead these boiling water atoms may boil the flesh from your foes or shut down electrical systems by literally drinking in all the energy they come in contact with. Size of orb conjured, stability of water and charged atoms, as well as how much energy can be drained is determined by the Cultivator¡¯s understanding of water, spatial forces, as well as the effects of foreign energies in regards to the properties of Uni-Vare.¡±


    Arson almost once again had to force himself to read on. The noises around him grew more and more alarming, but so did the strength that could be gained in his choice of a seemingly basic starting skill.


    ¡°Touch of the SunStorm Sovereign: combine all of the basic tools of the SunStorm Sovereign into one attack of pure devastation, increased by understanding nearly any attribute of Uni-Vare, *Note* this ability cannot be gained before gaining the six pieces of the SunStorm. This ability cannot be gained after level 1.0. Use wisely, even the SunStorm feared her own might.¡±


    Arson tried to select it before he¡¯d even read it all and sighed as he completed the small passage mentally. He looked around and made sure that he wasn¡¯t a moment away from death and looked over his options once more.


    All of the attacks seemed to be ranged which Arson enjoyed, as he didn¡¯t want to be close to a single creature below him. He also noted that some seemed to be a lot more vague in their descriptions, and Arson didn¡¯t know if that meant the abilities were more or less restricted, or if the descriptions lacked depth for another reason entirely.


    He looked around once more at all the types of enemies he saw below and made his choice. A new prompt greeted him as he came to his feet, ready for action.


    ¡°You have chosen, Conductive waters, a basic vision has been prepared for you to learn how to cast this ability as naturally as possible,¡± said Arson as he mumbled the prompt under his breath. He clicked yes on the prompt more worried about the creatures below, as more and more of the living armors seemed to make it pass the battles around them to be able to climb the trash mountain Arson had climbed. He was high up, but not high enough to feel safe.


    Then the vision took him. He saw a young girl that reminded him of Jade, only the girl¡¯s eyes were different, one golden and the other crimson.


    She fought 3 or more opponents, Arson couldn¡¯t tell as the enemies seemed to be blocked out of the vision. Their figures made of shadows and blurs of color.


    Arson wondered if this girl was the SunStorm Sovereign, but then was far too dazzled by her actions to care. She moved like lightning incarnate, only her limbs didn¡¯t move jerkily, but like calmly flowing water without obstruction or hindrance.


    The orb formed in her hand and Arson knew the first enemy she drove an orb through died instantly. Her hand exploded through the being¡¯s chest and Arson couldn¡¯t tell if it was the Orb or her punch.


    The blurred figure of the dead body remained wrapped around her arm, as she used the body to block more attacks as they came.


    The same orb still in hand, she shot it at a distant enemy only for the orb to take the enemies head off from what Arson could tell. Then she summoned two more orbs and closed in on her remaining opponents.


    Arson watched as the girl moved. In the vision it felt as if he could feel the combat firsthand. How she summoned the orb, how she changed it to accomplish both close and long ranged tasks.


    Arson knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to replicate all of the cool combat maneuvers he¡¯d witnessed in the vision, but if he could manage to use the orb situationally as she had, he manage to survive the night.


    He believed that for only as long as it took him to open his eyes. A living armor had managed to crest the peak of the small mountain Arson was on and locked onto his position, before it charged.


    ¡°You have to be sparking kidding me!¡±

 Chapter 6: The Grind Begins

    Arson raised his hands and a flood of energy swirled out from his palms violently. He didn¡¯t even manage to form the orbs properly before he sent them toward the living armor.


    The effect was lackluster but managed to spin the armor off its zombie-like feet after the two collisions occurred. Arson felt the sudden urge to attempt to spartan-kick the armor off the top of the trash heap like the girl in the vision, but then decided to charge two more orbs instead.


    ¡°Yeah, right,¡± said Arson and he fired two complete orbs at the creature as it rose. The second two orbs had a much more awe inspiring explosion that made Arson want to jump with excitement.


    ¡°Come on, you rusted spark plug, let¡¯s go!¡± The armor was blown through the air and landed on its neck, unaffected by the fall, but the chest plate he¡¯d managed to hit, sported a couple new orb sized dents.


    The creature rose to its feet once more and ran at Arson again. He charged another two orbs and on pure instinct alone mashed them together.


    They refused to merge at first, only to drain more mana from Arson as an even larger orb was formed, nearly as big as a basketball.


    ¡°Eat sparks!¡±


    Arson was ashamed that he missed his first kill. He shut his eyes and thrust both his hands forward. He felt the orb leave his hands, and even heard a ghostly wail of sorts.


    He didn¡¯t witness the orb drain all the mana from the creature as it died, detonate the life force within its body nor the explosive colors that twisted through the air as mana and experienced entered his body through his closed eyes and into his head.


    He heard an odd noise and opened his eyes a moment later to see, nothing but armor pieces scattered around the top of the heap.


    He looked around and didn¡¯t notice any immediate threats, but that would most likely change soon.


    A prompt for the fight popped up and Arson almost chose, experience over stats, but then remembered that for whatever reason, Touch of the SunStorm Sovereign couldn¡¯t be gained after level 1.0, or whatever that meant. So he once again decided stats.


    Then Arson¡¯s first robot came and he took aim and fired. The robot dodged the first orb, but the second hit the thing in its face, which caused an explosion, one Arson was able to witness.


    ¡°What did I say, come up here and you¡¯ll get the sparks!¡±


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    All volume control was gone for Arson, he clicked stats at the end of each fight. More came, and more stats were gained with each opponent defeated.


    Arson begun to see mana flow through the air toward him when he defeated certain opponents, actually, everything but the robots. He even managed to shoot a flying sword as it flew by that made him feel like he was going to burst.


    So he fired more shots until the feeling abated.


    Fewer enemies got a chance to climb the mountain as Arson began to patrol the perimeter of the heap he was on. He began to allow only one at a time to climb as the ones he stopped from the ascent entirely mixed back into the crowd and took his stat points with them.


    The single opponents that made it to the top had different names that popped up after they were defeated in an odd log that scrolled in the bottom left of Arson¡¯s vision.


    ¡°You have defeated a level 3.5 living armor, energy converted to stats, Enigma¡¯s Armor of descent rewards 3.5 stat points, conversion rate 100%¡±


    Arson was afraid to guess what any of the text meant, but he had a few ideas as to what he thought happened when he chose stats over experience after each fight.


    Something told Arson that if he chose experience over stats, his conversion rate would probably fall far short of 100%, but for now stats gave him a large return.


    Things continued like this and Arson began to wonder after four hours of straight combat, when he was going to run out of mana. Only for the thought to summon a bar in his vision that showed a white energy fluctuate with every orb he shot, in the upper left of his vision.


    ¡°Well that helps, but what about health and stamina,¡± asked Arson to himself. Two more bars popped up at his question. One a dark crimson, which didn¡¯t move, and the other a vibrant white gold, that fluctuated as much as his mana bar. He tied it to his stamina.


    Why his stamina bar moved as much as his more constantly used mana he was unsure and alarmed, as well as for his slightly growing health bar.


    The longer he fought, the longer the crimson bar grew. He couldn¡¯t help but think of how an abundance of life force could also be dangerous and decided to take more risks. Why he correlated having too much life-force with the need to risk his own wellbeing, he assumed was due to being pumped full of raw energy.


    ¡°Bring it, rust bucket!¡± Arson realized he was quickly able to destroy groups of the foes if he closed his eyes and focused on each individual cast of orbs. He was far from rapid fire, but the stream of orbs was enough to bombard groups below him.


    He only opened his eyes in intervals between every three or five shots to aim. After a while both the amount of remnants and nearby fights kept most away from Arson¡¯s heap. So he meditated while he waited and listened.


    When he entered his soul realm, what manifested visually was far different. Orbs like the frozen orbs of lightning flew in random directions all around the sun. The sun¡¯s tendrils would latch on to a random element frozen by the particle ring, and the orb would disappear.


    Then Arson noticed each time a random element was snatched from the air around the sun, another orb of frozen lightning would be created by another of the sun¡¯s tendrils and the frozen particle ring.


    Arson was at a loss as to what he was seeing, but had a sense that some sort of energy conversion occurred with each action the sun took. Then the conversion rate of 100% from enemy experience to stat points flashed through Arson¡¯s mind and he snapped out of his soul realm.


    He immediately opened his status overlay and went to his stat page. Even as he watched, the number increased, steadily and without pause.


    ¡°Am I going to really need this many stats?¡± Arson already had over 100, and the number was still on the rise. Arson merely shrugged and decided to put a point into armor. The prompt that popped up let Arson know immediately, he was going to need every stat he could get his hands on.


    ¡°To put this point in armor, you will need to unlock it first. Would you like to unlock Armor for 1000 stat points? Yes or No?¡± Arson scowled, and jammed the No button mentally.


    ¡°Well ain¡¯t that a socket spraying sparks.¡± He rose to his feet once more and cracked his neck before he rushed down the heap to find a new hill to become king of.


    ¡°Eat sparks!¡±

 Chapter 7: The Most Important Meal

    Arson ate so much food that he wondered how he hadn¡¯t gotten sick. He came back to Jade¡¯s house after the sun had fully risen. He would have come back sooner, but the star filled sunrise filled both him and his enemies with more energy than Arson was able to overcome easily.


    It was very hard for him to continue to focus, cast, and move, while mana thrummed through him. And he couldn¡¯t keep down the enemies that seemed to be able to regenerate from far more damage than normal during this sunrise.


    Arson merely watched his stat counter stop at 899 with a sigh and a sip of his tea. He knew he was not going to be able to unlock armor in a single night no matter how hard he tried.


    He contemplated trying to put more stats into Weapon since he already had it unlocked, but didn¡¯t think more fire power was the answer. It would take time to learn a new ability and would also change the flow of combat before he even knew the basics.


    No, Arson decided to find some form of martial training before he put any more points into Weapon. Maybe I should ask Troy? He nodded to himself in confirmation, and almost rose to his feet, and realized he nor Jade had spoken a single word to one another.


    He¡¯d simply come in. Sat down in a hurry to eat under the weight of a million questions and thoughts, and hadn¡¯t managed a word.


    ¡°Feel better,¡± said the woman as Arson looked at her.


    ¡°Much better, thanks,¡± responded Arson. He took another sip and asked the first question he had after another moment of thought.


    ¡°How dangerous is the dump at night?¡±


    ¡°Very, just depends on where you are located.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t expected a straight forward answer, but the woman hadn¡¯t even stopped eating to speak. Just gave him the flat truth, a feature of her character he hoped he could come to depend on.


    ¡°Can you give me any advice on where the best areas are for someone new to Cultivation?¡±


    ¡°Stay in the green area, until you¡¯ve unlocked all your attributes or whatever you Cultivators call them, then train in the blue areas, never go into the red zones at night, and stay far from the hole.¡± Jade pointed at a map of both the dump and junkyard on the wall. It was color coded by both mana core pattern drop rate, dungeon portal spawn rate, and monster spawn density.


    It took Arson a while to understand the honeycomb pattern all the different colors created. Jade had to specify a few odd details he couldn¡¯t explain himself. All before Jade ended up handing him a watch that she again pulled from thin air.


    ¡°Here is a basic hollow watch I¡¯ll trade it for the orb in your pocket, it has a spacial inventory and a map, I¡¯ve coded details of the areas I have searched, and it will update further if you explore areas I have not, just make sure to turn off the AI functions if they turn on for any reason.¡± Arson frowned as he took the mana core from his pocket. He didn¡¯t like that she knew he had it, but it wasn¡¯t like he was going to keep it anyway.


    ¡°Spacial inventory?¡±


    ¡°Man, you really are an orphan, huh? It¡¯s a backpack, but you only have access to the inside and the bags opening. Think of an item in the bag¡¯s space and it will pop into your hand, want to put something in the bag, and all you have to do is think it, kid. Simple as that,¡± said Jade. Arson looked at the watch in alarm. He¡¯d seen many rich people come and adopt children from the orphanage, and none pulled things out of spacial inventories. Arson took the watch like it was the greatest gift he¡¯d ever received, even though he¡¯d technically bought it. Jade only rolled her eyes as he put it on slowly.


    Arson smiled as the watch changed to fit him. Then it further shifted from a matte black to match the frozen particle sheen of his crown.


    He hadn¡¯t shown the woman his crown yet and only had it out as he worked when it became unbearable not too, as he never knew when Jade would come to check on him.


    It wasn¡¯t that it was unbearable to not have his crown out, but it seemed to make his mind fog over slightly. As if he needed glasses and could see clearly again when the piece of his soul was manifested once more.


    ¡°That white gold suits you young man, you look rather refined.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Are you headed back to the orphanage finally?¡±


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    ¡°Nope, back to work, I plan on leaving in the afternoon to help a friend, but after that I¡¯ll be back for another night on the hunt. Thanks again Jade, your food was fantastic.¡± Arson ran up and hugged the lady before she could stop him and was out the door before she could even wipe the shock from her face.


    Once outside, Arson looked at the makeshift sled. It had taken him an hour and a half to make out of random trash from the dump that morning, and began to take his treasures off the sled.


    Clothes, shoes, Cultivation manuals and more was stacked neatly only to disappear by the second into his new watch.


    He opened the map on the watch, and the device projected a hologram of the area, above the screen in real time, in satellite precision levels of detail.


    ¡°Wow, this is sparking useful.¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t know why, but he wanted to explore the unexplored areas around the dump on the map. They appealed to him far more than any other areas, but Arson had to complete his work for the day first before he could even start to think about the new spaces he¡¯d yet to see.


    He made his way back to the hole at the southern perimeter, and was surprised to realize the hole wasn¡¯t at the center of the dump as he originally assumed.


    ¡°Sparks this place is huge¡­¡± There were 10 more holes of equal or larger sizes spread throughout the rest of the map Arson had access to.


    During his walk to the hole he¡¯d read up on the area through the notes left in the watch by Jade, and found the notes to be a thrill to read rather than a bore. They even included small pictures of landmarks to use to help navigate more easily.


    Arson worked his three hour shift, and then began his mana core hunt. With his memory it was easy to climb a trash heap and find where he¡¯d been the previous night.


    He wanted to prove his theory about the heaps that had the largest concentration of enemies around them. He believed that those would be the heaps he could most likely find mana cores in, but the only way to prove it was to check.


    He found himself once more high up and lucky for him, he could now tell why the dump looked the way it did. Before he wondered why trash was dumped by air drop and why only a handful of people ever worked here at a time.


    Now he understood that the dump of Maelstrom city was a battlefield, and that only made him excited to reach the junkyard. He also wondered if the area had a different keeper.


    He supposed he only knew two land keepers, Almarine and Jade, but maybe Jade owned the junkyard too. The lands touched each other, and job was technically posted for both areas.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just ask her later,¡± said Arson to himself. He followed the path on the map before he realized another thing about the dump.


    There were designated paths through all the heaps, but no one kept the paths clean. Except for the groups of monsters that roamed through the dump in what must have been some sort of patrol patterns.


    ¡°Monsters run through, and kick trash aside, leaving the dump less cluttered, that¡¯s hilarious,¡± said Arson. Not aware of how close to the truth of things he actually was.


    Arson managed to find 3 mana cores in a single heap over the next few hours. He managed to find them by complete obliteration of the heap itself.


    It took him far longer to accomplish as his mana wasn¡¯t being constantly replenished through the secondary features of conductive waters. No mana to drain, no mana to gain.


    He was excited to confirm if it would work on the flesh of a real fang and claw monster, but wasn¡¯t going to rush into anything.


    He packed up the few new items he needed to present his plan to both Jade and anyone else he could get to help him. His watch made things easy to store and even noted it was at 13% of its maximum capacity. He was truly interested in how the spacial enchant worked and added it to a list of things he was working on.


    1. Complete remaining mandatory work hours: 2271.


    2. Find Almarine a birthday present.


    3. Create way to recycle products more efficiently.


    4. Help orphans make more money.


    5. Help Troy find a trainer.


    6. Find a trainer for, crafting, martial forms, and magics.


    7.Clean the dump, and fix the junkyard.


    Arson waved at Jade as he ran by and made his way back into town. Luscious green, surrounded the dump and junkyard, and was weaved seamlessly into the sand rock jungle that was Maelstrom city. It took him hours to make it back in time, but he did and had to make his first meeting quick before he met up with Troy.


    He ran into the orphanage, and made his way to the girls quarters.


    ¡°Hey, has anyone seen Jasmine, I gotta catch her before,¡± said Arson before a groan came down the hall at him.


    ¡°What do you want, brat? Make it quick, it¡¯s my bath time!¡± Arson smiled and rushed down the hall to find exactly who he was looking for.


    ¡°Hey Jasmine, if we could make the money doing all the laundry you all do ourselves, would you come work for me?¡±


    Arson took in the bewildered expression of the black haired, blue eyed teen in front of him in her towel and turned around.


    ¡°Sorry, just excited and have a few plans that could make us eat a lot better around here.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, brat? Let it out or I¡¯m leaving for my soak.¡± Arson smiled and pulled what he thought to be an old dirty jacket.


    When he turned around with what seemed to be a brand new black leather jacket, he froze and so did jasmine.


    ¡°Kid, did you steal a jacket and now are trying to get me to wash it for you, before you sell it or something? Because let me tell you, a few washes ain¡¯t going to make that look even a day old, baby boy.¡±


    His mind raced and Arson could only stare at the coat. It had holes, been shredded and even slightly discolored somehow when he¡¯d found it, but now, perfect refined leather. He took a moment to think before he responded to Jasmine¡¯s frustration.


    ¡°Well, I have to rethink my plans after a recent development, but what if I secured a place, plenty of cleaning equipment, I supply the cleaning supplies, and pay you far above the orphan salary, could you gather a few of your people and run a laundry for me?¡±


    ¡°How much above the orphan pay, I already make 5k credits a day, if you can¡¯t beat that I don¡¯t want anything to do with it,¡± said Jasmine as she tried to brush pass Arson, only for him to let her pass as he responded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you 5k for materials, 25k as a bonus for you to gather people and pay you 10k a shift if you can manage to take any of your larger contacts from the city as you leave, offer them the same level of quality but we will only charge 95% of what they are currently paying?¡± Jasmine froze.


    ¡°Yeah right, kid, pay up front then,¡± said Jasmine with a playful wave of her flatscreen. Arson flicked through his watch, and shot the digital invoice he¡¯d worked out on his walk back and the girl froze in the doorway. Then took an awkward step back, and slowly closed the door.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t stealing the equipment, are you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t going to cross any legal lines, all legal work?¡±


    ¡°The laundry will be a hundred percent legitimate.¡±


    She looked back at him and smiled. He smiled back and knew that he had a lot of work to do if her smile meant what he thought it did?


    ¡°So are you in?¡± Jasmine looked at her handheld flatscreen and then back to Arson.


    ¡°As soon as you finalize the payment.¡±

 Chapter 8: Momentum

    ¡°So, what do you got for me, kid?¡± Arson stared down the opponents across the ring from Troy. He read their lips and grimaced. Their plans would probably work against Troy if she wasn¡¯t able to close the distance and Arson found trouble being able to tell his roommate.


    ¡°Spit it out, kid. Your face looks like you need to use the bathroom.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re going to set the entire stage on fire, from the start. You got any movement abilities?¡± Troy looked at the small circular stage and then shared Arson¡¯s grimace.


    ¡°Yeah, but I can¡¯t use it very well, and if I miss I¡¯m probably going to fly out of the ring.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t use it how, ¡®cause that dude looks like he is ready, like all the way ready, for all the smoke,¡± said Arson. He could feel the heat roll off the young man¡¯s body even across the distance that separated them and wondered how his coach could bare to stand next to him.


    ¡°Like my body fills with light and I move way too fast to be able to tell what direction I am moving at all, it¡¯s terrible,¡± said Troy. Arson shrugged.


    ¡°You used that cool looking hard light clone of yourself just fine, are you telling me you can flood that thing with all your energy recklessly in a fight and it doesn¡¯t explode?¡±


    ¡°No, of course I stop when it¡¯s formed densely enough to cause damage.¡±


    ¡°Ok, so what¡¯s the issue, don¡¯t let your body fill with light completely and slowly speed up until you are moving fast enough that you can still control it.¡±


    ¡°Ok, that actually does sound like it would work, but I don¡¯t have time to test something like that, the match is going to start in ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like you have time to practice and you¡¯re making excuses,¡± said Arson with a chuckle. He pointed at the open space in the ring and smiled.


    ¡°I got a new attack that could burn the skin off your body if you want to turn up the intensity a little?¡±


    Arson had been playing, but now that they¡¯d gotten the judge to put the private bubble around the ring for their practice, he was truly engaged. He couldn¡¯t hit Troy at all.


    He¡¯d nearly gotten her in the first 60 seconds. Then her skin started to glow, and she began to blur in his vision. Arson only had 100 shots before he ran out of mana, and had increased his speed slightly since he¡¯d first gained the skill.


    Regardless, Troy became less and less jerky in her movements as Arson unloaded orb after orb.


    Arson hadn¡¯t realized how serious they¡¯d gotten until the dome disappeared and they didn¡¯t stop for a second. Even the announcer stopped his introduction to watch as Arson¡¯s arms pumped with every shot. He roared and finally Troy stopped and caught his final orb.


    He was happy to see that the attack drank some of her mana and restored his own, and also didn¡¯t damage her due to the light around her skin.


    ¡°Thanks buddy, I think I may have this now.¡± Arson smiled at her and bowed before he left the ring. He noted the alarmed faces of Troy¡¯s opponent and coach.


    Arson knew Troy was fast and known to be so, but she¡¯d just entered a whole new category of speed, she was now a feather weight. She¡¯d probably even need to get her fighting license changed if she could clock over a hundred mile an hour 30 yard dash, which Arson had zero doubts about her doing.


    ¡°Maybe I should invite her to come hunting for mana cores with me at night,¡± mumbled Arson to himself. Yet, his words still felt loud. The room¡¯s atmosphere changed drastically. Not only did they look at Troy strangely, Arson now gained a few odd looks himself.


    ¡°Are these some noble brats slumming it to get names for themselves?¡± Arson looked over his shoulder at the words that came from behind him in the crowd.


    ¡°That kid had a crown, I swear I saw it.¡± Arson rolled his eyes and shook his head. He hadn¡¯t meant for his crown to show, but it had. Troy fired him up, and it came out, and he knew it would be hard to stop something like that.


    His core was a natural part of him. He wondered if maybe when that core was fully formed if maybe it would be more easily contained, but for now it wanted to be free, even if he felt shame when he looked at it.


    ¡°Troy and I are from Maelstrom orphanage, both raised from birth, all you¡¯re seeing is my friend¡¯s hard work, don¡¯t take that from her, celebrate her greatness.¡± Arson didn¡¯t look back, but the murmurs told him he¡¯d made his point. So many from the bottom were quick to pronounce that if they had what a more privileged individual had, they would be great. Arson knew the lie in those words.


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    ¡°Greatness yields for nothing or no one.¡± The quote from Almarine rang true in his mind, heart and he felt like it made his soul brighten.


    Then the fight began and Arson smiled. It was the easiest 25k he¡¯d made in his life so far. The match didn¡¯t last more than a handful of seconds and Arson felt bad for the kid that fought Troy.


    The bell rang and the boy was lifted off the ground by a kick to the stomach that landed before the bell¡¯s hum could disperse from the air.


    Troy didn¡¯t give him any reprieve as she ran up his body and used him as a launch pad. Once airborne, two copies of herself were summoned as she hooted with excitement on her descent.


    The boy exploded with fire, but was so delirious that he missed Troy entirely.


    The ring was saturated in flames and Troy heel-dropped the young man three times, one after the other. She stood among the flames and smiled before she walked off stage. The judge didn¡¯t count, as the young man¡¯s coach had thrown in the towel before the heel drops had even occurred.


    ¡°Hey kid, dinner on me tonight, we got some things to talk about!¡±


    It took Arson far longer than he wanted it to, to convince Troy that he needed her to come to the dump with him, but after his third promise of a feast, she relented.


    They made the hours long trek to the dump and Arson was pleased to run into Jasmine and two of the other orphans Arson didn¡¯t know the names of.


    ¡°They¡¯re with me, but the twins don¡¯t talk, so I will let them warm up to you, especially if you¡¯re going to be their boss, give them time and they will open up.¡± Arson nodded and waved at the boy and girl behind Jasmine, while she introduced herself to Troy.


    The group made it to Jade¡¯s and another round of introductions came and went.


    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t make a habit of bringing all your friends for every meal without a heads up in the future, young man.¡± Arson shrugged and handed over the three mana cores he found earlier.


    ¡°There is normally far more than either one of us could eat, so I figured you would¡¯t mind,¡± said Arson as Jade transferred 150k credits to him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind, I will just need to prepare more, that¡¯s all. You and that Troy girl seem to have huge appetites.¡±


    ¡°Sorry ma¡¯am, Arson did some intense training with me before my own professional fight a few hours ago and apparently my new ability makes me really hungry.¡±


    ¡°It is not a problem, child. Arson just needs to send me a message before we have company is all, come now, follow follow,¡± said Jade. They entered the warehouse and to Arson¡¯s surprise a different house was summoned by Jade and they entered a manor a quarter size of the orphanage.


    ¡°Your new boss is a Keeper?¡± Arson could tell Jasmine was shocked, as was Troy.


    ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t Mr. Kim from the laundry a Keeper,¡±asked Arson.


    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯ve never actually met him,¡± said Jasmine in complete shock.


    Arson didn¡¯t know the significance of a Keeper, just that they were important figures. They owned land, gave jobs, and cut pay checks. Beyond that, Arson was clueless as to what they were capable of.


    The group ate and learned about one another. The twins stayed silent, but ate their fill, which made Arson happy.


    ¡°How much do we owe you for the meal, Ms. Jade?¡± asked Troy.


    ¡°Yeah, I was going to ask the same,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°You would have to ask Arson, this is his daily food budget you are all enjoying,¡± said Jade. The two older girls shared a look, and Arson would have to ask one of them later what he missed.


    ¡°Speaking of which, young man, are you going to tell us finally why we are all here?¡± Arson looked at Jade and nodded.


    ¡°Yes, but before I do, I have to ask you a question.¡± Jade nodded at Arson to continue and he did so.


    ¡°Why was a practically destroyed jacket, made whole again after I left it in my watches inventory?¡±


    ¡°The auto repair function of the spacial enchantment, it is very rare and if I didn¡¯t have many of those watches from my years of scavenging I would probably still be wearing it, why?¡± Arson looked at his watch and gulped. He¡¯d been gifted the watch, but hadn¡¯t known its real value. He¡¯d cherished it as if it were worth as much as priceless artwork, but to know that it was worth as much as priceless artwork was entirely different.


    ¡°Is there anyway that we can recreate this function on a larger scale?¡±


    ¡°What do you have planned, kid,¡± asked Jasmine. She felt she was quickly aware of what his plans were, at least on the surface.


    ¡°Ok, Jade, if you let me use the warehouse, I want to open a shop, a shop full of the goods that we restore from the dump, originally I was going to have the orphans use their individual skills and abilities to restore the items as best we could, but if we can create a form of restoration system using the spacial enchantment, we may be able to do far more than I even originally had planned.¡±


    The group shared a look and Arson could tell he had them interested. Even the twins were on the edges of their seats, although they remained silent. Jasmine bit her nails in excitement, and even Troy bounced her leg like a child pumped full of sugar.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯d have to move my manor, and you¡¯d probably need some way of attracting customers once you''re in full swing, but as for the enchantment, I was never good at the crafting aspects of Uni-Vare, but I may have a way that you could learn.¡± Arson could feel a sense of apprehension in Jade¡¯s normally confident voice that made Arson worry he¡¯d overstepped.


    ¡°Fix your face kid, it¡¯s just that if I do this, you will have access to knowledge that most Cultivators around your age, or even millenniums older than you would kill for, I don¡¯t know how I would feel about anyone as young as you having that kind of access to information networks, especially Cultivation based ones.¡±


    ¡°What about under your supervision, I only use the network thing you show me when you¡¯re around?¡± Arson didn¡¯t want to miss his opportunity, and he knew this was his chance, so he pushed.


    ¡°You and your friends bring me a dozen cores a week as payment for the warehouse and you have a deal, as long as you are always supervised when you use the Sovereign System app on your watch, I will give you access and let you rent the warehouse space.¡± Arson had seen the app Jade spoke about, but ignored it as he was clueless as to its use. He was glad he hadn¡¯t known it was a database, or he would have wasted a lot of his own time in an attempt to open it.


    ¡°Do the four I sold you so far this week count?¡± asked Arson. He wanted to get started as soon as possible, but Troy cut him off.


    ¡°You¡¯re stretching it Arson, she¡¯s doing a huge favor for you already. Let¡¯s bring her the cores and make a killing after a little hard work,¡± said Troy. The others nodded and Jade smiled.


    ¡°You can¡¯t blame your young leader for wanting to push the boundaries as far as he can. No person knows their limits without a certain level of inner fearlessness.¡±


    The rest of the meal was casual. They all ate their fill and Jasmine took the twins home shortly after they were all done.


    They¡¯d worked out the majority of their plans to begin and Arson was ready for a long night. Except this time, Troy and he would have a blast in a search for mana cores, and slightly damaged washing machines.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long night¡­¡±

 Chapter 9: Recipes for Success

    ¡°This map is super detailed,¡± said Troy, as they made their separate ways to their destinations. Arson¡¯s watch had a walkie-talkie function and he and Troy used it in tandem with her own flatscreen to communicate.


    ¡°Stay in that zone and you should be good, it¡¯s marked as green and from what I remember there was a lot of large machinery in that area.¡±


    ¡°Well, it is the edge of the junkyard dude, I just hope the equipment we are looking for is there.¡±


    ¡°Trust me it will be. The problem isn¡¯t the equipment, it¡¯s getting it to work, we will need plenty of washing machines until I figure out the spacial enchantments.¡±


    Arson found his way to the edge of the section he¡¯d been at last night, and positioned himself at the edge of the blue zone.


    He needed to know why Jade, felt he would need all his stats unlocked to enter a blue zone. He didn¡¯t want to lose his life, but he did need to understand what he needed to be wary of.


    Arson hated it about himself, but fear needed to be experienced to be justified. Yes, the stove is hot, but how do you know until you touch it? Yes, the second floor is high up, but what teaches you not to jump, more than the fall?


    Arson couldn¡¯t fear something he¡¯d never seen or heard, or even had a chance to experience first hand. He refused.


    ¡°So what do we do now, wait until sundown?¡± Arson lifted his watch as he looked around.


    ¡°Yes, I think we have around 20 minutes before we see action.¡±


    The two waited but before Arson knew it he was in a full sprint toward Troy. Her screams of fear made him instantly regret everything. He could have and should have warned her better.


    ¡°What the sparks¡­¡± Arson couldn¡¯t say much more than that.


    He¡¯d arrived at Troy¡¯s marker on his map to find the young woman terrified, yet¡­ deadly.


    Troy had become a blur of light in the dark of the set sun. She kicked and punched with authority, and made herself a danger to be around.


    ¡°Troy, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m killing all the sparking demons, who brings a girl into this kind of place, I thought you liked me, are we not friends!¡±


    ¡°Calm down, its just monsters, and you realize you''re getting stats and experience for this right?¡±


    Troy looked away for a moment, then back at Arson. Her gaze went distant momentarily, before her eyes widened.


    ¡°So much XP, what the hell is this place?¡±


    Arson laughed and summoned two orbs of conductive waters. He blasted the incoming group of robots and Troy blurred. Her every movement left streaks through the dark of night.


    ¡°Are you ok now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah I guess, but you could have warned me!¡±


    ¡°Nope, Jade didn¡¯t tell me, and it didn¡¯t feel right to tell you, I think it¡¯s a rite of passage, you don¡¯t flee for your life, and you get to stay,¡± screamed Arson over the violence with a laugh.


    ¡°You¡¯re a brat and you know it!¡±


    They destroyed monsters in the green zones for the majority of the night, up until Arson couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He needed to know why the small blue circles were so abundant, and why Jade felt he needed all of his attributes unlocked to enter them.


    ¡°Hey Troy, follow me I need to check this out before we head back for breakfast!¡±


    Arson ran toward the nearest blue zone on the map and froze when he got to the edge of the area. There was a single set of living armor in an open clearing. Arson put up his arm to stop Troy as she tried to walk pass him, but she moved far too fast now for the attempt to work.


    ¡°Hey wait,¡± was all Arson managed to say before the Armor charged them both, and Arson got his first prompt of the day.


    ¡°7th Style: Error, missing Styles 1-6, retreat recommended, defeat the master of the 7th Omni form¡¯s armor to gain access to new techniques.¡±


    ¡°Troy, we need to run!¡±


    Arson fired at the armor as it closed the distance. Troy managed to glance at him before the Armor vanished.


    By the time Arson was able to see the armor again, both he and Troy had been flung in different directions. In one smooth motion the armor had kicked Troy, and punched him simultaneously.


    Troy managed to land on her feet, and slid off-balanced for a few dozen meters. Arson smashed face-first into a nearby trash heap.


    His vision went blurry for a moment and he felt more than half of his life-force leave his body. By the time Arson got out of the heap Troy had already reengaged.


    Arson was shocked by the fight. Troy wasn¡¯t able to hit her opponent, and was struck often, and hard, but she remained upright.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, kid. I need your help!¡±


    Arson shook his head to clear his vision and focus. He charged two orbs and smashed them together, but kept going until the single two handed orb was almost the size of an award winning watermelon.


    ¡°Duck, woman!¡± Arson fired and the orb streaked through the air faster than any other orb he¡¯d fired yet. Troy dropped prone and covered her head, and the armor tried to dodge. Only¡­


    Boom!


    The orb snapped the remainder of the distance between it and the armor like a spark of lightning. Arson wondered if he somehow magnetized the orb, but he doubted there was a way for him to make his attack seek out mana, or could he?


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Arson felt good about his attack when it landed. It sent the armor through the air and into a trash heap, which made Arson feel he¡¯d gotten revenge on the thing that made him eat garbage.


    Then it rose out of the heap undamaged, and without using its hands and he yelled for another retreat. Troy blurred and even picked Arson up as she ran out of the zone with him over her shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back for you!¡± Arson glared at the armor in the distance, but then he heard a laugh from the thing that sent chills down his spine, and he slightly rethought his declaration.


    ¡°Later¡­ much later¡­,¡± mumbled Arson to himself.


    ¡°You¡¯re psycho if you think we are going anywhere near that place again,¡± said Troy. Arson hadn¡¯t realized how fast they moved until she¡¯d spoken and her voice came out slightly muffled by the wind.


    ¡°Says the girl who charged pass me to fight,¡± Arson said as he struggled with discomfort on her shoulder.


    Troy dodged opponents easily, and made their return time much faster than Arson could have pulled off alone. Even at a dead sprint and seemingly endless energy stores.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± said Troy after a time.


    ¡°For what,¡± said Arson. He¡¯d only given her grief as a joke, but his tone must have shifted the delivered message in her eyes. It was something Arson knew he needed to work on, so he spoke up as they came to a complete stop.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, I was only kidding about you charging in, it¡¯s not like I wasn¡¯t seconds from firing off on the thing myself, don¡¯t worry about it, I found mana cores, and have almost enough to unlock my second and maybe even my third attribute,¡± said Arson. Troy smiled and looked around as the sun managed to rise.


    ¡°Well, with the laundry machines we found, you should be able to start with Jasmine soon, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we still have to get them fixed, or figure out if the spacial enchantment will work on them or not, but I doubt it will.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that, it seemed to work on the few items you tested last night?¡±


    ¡°Yeah but all of those items were small, and are all made of a single material, I kept it super basic, but I am unsure about how more complicated equipment may work, or if it will at all.¡± Troy just nodded at first, until she spoke up again when something must have triggered a thought in her mind.


    ¡°Hey, did you get a weird notification when we entered the green zone about Styles?¡± It was Arson¡¯s turn to nod.


    ¡°Any clue what that is about,¡± asked Troy. Arson shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m about to ask Jade, and you know you are more than welcome to stay for breakfast,¡± said Arson. The girl¡¯s stomach rumbled, and they found themselves eating breakfast with the same group.


    ¡°So what happened,¡± Arson asked Jasmine, as he handed the cores from the previous night over to Jade discreetly under the table. He needed to know how much she¡¯d give him for his haul before he could move their plans any further, but knew that his gains should remain private.


    He¡¯d been stolen from and had stolen to survive in the orphanage. He no longer would since he¡¯d been given other options, but knew the skills well.


    Since he didn¡¯t know the twins, Jasmine, or even Troy all that well, he didn¡¯t know how much of those same practices they themselves used. He¡¯d keep their earnings as secret as possible.


    His wants weren¡¯t for wealth anyway. The orphans would most likely gain the most value from what he earned in the end.


    ¡°We pulled a city contract, no grudge or gripe from Mr. Kim. He has dozens of contracts he doesn¡¯t want, and even took them on our behalf, and delivered them to us for the low price of 100k, and he said we can pay him back when something in the contract reaches it¡¯s maximum interest rate, whatever that means,¡± said Jasmine in-between bites. Arson and Jade shared a look, and the mirrored alarm in their eyes, made them both burst into laughter.


    ¡°What, what¡¯s, so funny,¡± asked Troy. Jasmine looked confused, and so did the twins and Troy.


    ¡°We won¡¯t be letting any interest rate rise anywhere, just make sure there aren¡¯t any penalties in the contract for paying the total amount before a certain date, or in full, otherwise,¡± said Arson as he looked at his new 375k balance a moment before he invoiced her enough money to nearly faint.


    ¡°Kid, what are you doing in the dump that has you throwing around this kind of money,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°Nothing that you need to worry about. Pretty sure you guys are safe in the warehouse, which I have been meaning to ask you about. Jade, wait no. Jasmine, why are you guys here if you have a contract, and why did we pay to have it brought here,¡± asked Arson.


    ¡°I told them to,¡± said Jade. He looked to her and then waited for an answer, only to have her sigh.


    ¡°I asked you if I could use the warehouse, but you never really gave me an answer, and I do get the vibe that you don¡¯t necessarily want a lot of people here to bother you, but I have a plan for that too,¡± said Arson before Jade cut in.


    ¡°It is ok, kid, I just have the oddest feeling that with that watch on your wrist you will actually achieve whatever insane plan you have,¡± said Jade. Arson looked at the watch he now knew he didn¡¯t want to part with, and back at Jade with more questions in his eyes.


    He took off the watch and slid it across the table to Jade. The item pulsed with energy, and seemed to hum the farther it got away from him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t deserve something so valuable, nor do I want my achievements to be determined by the gift of someone much more powerful than me,¡± said Arson. He smiled as Jade smiled.


    ¡°You are the 11th and final owner of that watch Arson, it can¡¯t be passed on, or returned, it is actually more of a danger for it to not be on your wrist at this point.¡± Jade the slid the watch back over to Arson, and he frowned as he put it back on.


    ¡°Why would you give it to me,¡± asked Arson.


    ¡°Well, to be honest it was a fluke, I test every new worker I have as a piece of a promise I made and you just so happen to be the one the watch worked for, but I didn¡¯t say what I said to discourage you, I only said it because of the faith I¡¯m quickly coming to have in you Arson. I wish I didn¡¯t need all this, but it seems as you needed a place to grow, I needed something to stir me up,¡± said Jade.


    ¡°Aww, that¡¯s the sweetest thing I think I have ever heard,¡± said Jasmine. Arson scowled at her, and everyone laughed. Even the twins, Arson noted.


    The boy and girl hadn¡¯t taken their eyes off him since they¡¯d gotten back and he¡¯d wondered what had changed.


    ¡°So is anyone going to tell Troy and me what happened while we were out?¡± It was time for Jasmine and Jade to share a look before the older woman¡¯s smile prompted Jasmine to explain.


    ¡°Jade already has washing machines and all kinds of other cleaning equipment and supplies, the stuff may not work longterm if we take on more contracts, but she has given us a more than fair price for rental, I hope,¡± said Jasmine with a glance at Troy, Arson and even Jade for confirmation. Arson laughed when Troy shrugged.


    ¡°I let the kid deal with the money stuff, if I win my first contract fight next week I¡¯ll be paid my first million credits thanks to him, so I¡¯m going to say as my new manager, he¡¯s the one to work out the numbers,¡± said Troy with a point in his direction.


    ¡°Manager huh, sounds nice, how much can you afford to pay me per fight, as you can see my time is very valuable,¡± said Arson with a laugh, but he was the only one to do so.


    ¡°It was a joke, I¡¯m not that busy yet, I still haven¡¯t even managed to pick what I want to do as a profession, nor found a trainer for¡­¡± Arson trailed off and looked at Troy before he remembered the Armor he¡¯d lost to. The same armor that left his entire chest bruised and still in intense pain. It throbbed as he thought about it, let alone attempted to rub the area.


    ¡°Jade, what are the Styles of Omni?¡±


    ¡°By that bruise on your neck there I can tell you didn¡¯t listen to me, which Style did you run into?¡±


    ¡°Style 7, and you didn¡¯t tell us how many Styles there were?¡±


    ¡°There are 21 Styles in the Styles of Omni, which are considered to be the refined movements of all hand to hand martial forms, then there is the 17 Martial Weapons of Omni, the 13 Spirit Forms of Omni, the 7 Magical Kingdoms of Uni-Vare, 3 Constructs of Omnipotent will, and finally the Form of Omni.¡± Every face in the room scrunched at Jades words and Arson wasn¡¯t the only one with questions. Even the twins bombarded Jade with inquiries and the woman seemed to happily teach them what she knew.


    Arson knew that most Keepers weren¡¯t like Jade, but it was probably the primary reason he didn¡¯t plan on work elsewhere. He had a teacher in Jade, something most wouldn¡¯t dare to be in Maelstrom for free.


    Jade explained that Omni, or the will of all things, was the legacy left behind by a family known for Cultivation, and the creation of Ikarus, the first and last wonder of Uni-Vare.


    This family is said to still exist, but as to where they are and what they are doing, that is unknown. Jade further explained that it is believed that most of their members have ascended pass even the level known as godhood, and become natural forces of Uni-Vare itself.


    The Styles began at 1 with mixed martial arts and ended at 21 with a Style that held movements that disrupted time and space through the use of different elements. Arson took in all the information and then looked at Jade once more and remembered the star that lit in his memory when he first met the woman.


    After a while Arson excused himself and left the others to talk and eat while he worked on his stats. After he made his way outside and into a meditative pose, he entered his soul realm.


    ¡°Sparking heaven fire what the¡­¡± The inside of his soul realm was active. Elements of so many varieties flew within his soul realm he lost count as they were converted dozens at a time.


    He exited and smiled as he brought up his status overlay, and looked at his available stat counter.


    ¡°Available stats: 2562, and counting.¡± The error he got when he tried to unlock his armor stat pissed him off, and his system stat gave him the same response.


    ¡°What the sparks does it mean not enough cores!¡± Arson heard Jade laugh from nearby and he tried not to roll his eyes. Then he remembered his incomplete cores and realized his odd three cores, and three stat attributes were probably connected somehow.


    With that in mind he again entered his soul realm. It took him far longer to access what he¡¯d originally assumed to be a line of power in the chaos of the stat conversion, but the single cord of light still remained.


    For whatever reason he felt the point to be the northern most point of the sphere that formed his inner sun, and the line went directly up from there.


    He followed the line through his mental space to the point that his sun became so small he could no longer see it within his soul space which he found filled him with an odd fear. A fear that made him angry as he didn¡¯t understand why he felt fear as he continued on, but he did.


    It was as if the representation of his soul made him experience the void of space. The distance between stars made real to Arson as he followed an unknown path to experience something he never had before, finally he was confronted by a white light that seemed to bleach space itself and a prompt appeared.


    ¡°Unlock soul node, 1500 stat points, minimum, 10k maximum, make first attempt now, 26% chance of success, Yes/No.¡± Arson scoffed at the price and knew he had a lot of work ahead of him. He was excited to see what that would entail, but knew he wanted the best chance for this to work, and exited his soul realm.


    Arson then took the time to find what he needed for the following night, and began to prepare. He wanted to be able to have everything ready for him and Troy to work that night. After he was done, he began to meditate, and see if he could focus his body on healing the damage that had been done to his chest.


    He didn¡¯t wake up, until the following morning.

 Chapter 10: Stats and Credits

    Arson realized he was wrong. He didn¡¯t have time. He¡¯d healed his wound completely, and wounded himself again the same night.


    The much more grievous wound still only took a day to heal, and Arson realized healing fast was nice, but he was expected to be places and do things at certain times now.


    He¡¯d gotten two infractions against him his first week already, as, he¡¯d missed two shifts to heal himself.


    Jade had no choice and shrugged when she showed them to him. She wasn¡¯t going to fire him, but they did go against his public record.


    Jade only showed them to him because they were not only automatically filed if his shovel didn¡¯t record weight each day, the notices were also easily sent via holo-watch.


    The city bothered her, so she in return glared at him in a way that made him feel guilty. He¡¯d been glared at by many and not cared, even Almarine, yet no face twisted him up like hers did. He didn¡¯t want to let her down, and he was figuratively ahead in hours by a lot.


    Arson thought for a moment to himself about why the CityNation of Maelstrom would even bother her with a complaint about her single worker, but quickly realized that as a Keeper she was wealthy beyond belief and a Cultivator¡¯s government did anything to pinch pennies from anyone.


    Ahead of hours or not, no reason felt justified under Jade¡¯s displeased glare, so he stated none. Only that he would improve.


    He did improve, drastically, over the following days. His knowledge grew, and after a three day hunt, he and Troy had finally found it.


    ¡°The valley of the first, boo yah!¡± Troy almost ran in again and then froze just outside with a look at Arson.


    ¡°I know what you said, but I think we should do this one together,¡± said Troy. Arson shook his head.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m going to look at the nearby ones, and see if we might be lucky and find more beginner based armors, I won¡¯t enter the ones Jade told us not too, but I¡¯ll definitely mark them on the joint map for us.¡± Troy nodded and Arson was off. He wanted to save the excitement of the first valley¡¯s teachings for when he was alone. Not only because he knew he was going to make a fool of himself, but because he didn¡¯t want to immolate his friend.


    He¡¯d already been tainted by the vision of the SunStorm Sovereign, and begun to Spartan-kick his opponents when the moment called for it. Which was all the time. And had gotten him injured. He began to try to heal himself while he stayed conscious, and failed. Which got him another infraction.


    Three days later he found himself in front of the area within the dump he¡¯d hoped to find, and it was close to the valley of the first style, yet much further than even the valley was from the warehouse.


    Before he entered the first magical domain, he marked it on the map and checked his forgotten stat page. He¡¯d pushed it to the back of his mind once he realized everything within his own system of Cultivation seemed to be a lot more expensive than normal.


    ¡°Available stat points: 15777.¡± He froze and wondered if he should turn back and try to complete another core before he entered his own first trial, but then realized there would probably be a cost. Closed the page, and entered the area.


    ¡°You have entered the Dominion of Elements: Storm affinities recognized, beginning step 1 tutorial.¡±


    As Arson entered there were 11 wands that floated in the air, before faceless men and women formed around them. With the wands being the centermost point of their bodies, the magical instruments could no longer be seen once the forms were complete.


    Then for the first time Arson saw tags above the heads of his potential enemies¡­ or was it teachers?


    ¡°Ok, so how do we begin,¡± said as he read over the names.


    There was one for, fire, water, air, earth, nature, light, dark, gravity, and three he didn¡¯t have names for, so he assumed neither did his system. One of the symbols was of a circular device with 12 runes on it, and two arms that seemed to spin out of sync, and even went in different directions for an unknown reason.


    Another symbol was a metallic orb, and the final was of an odd white energy that twisted strangely. All while it attempted to either straighten or turn into a sphere before it formed a twisted symbol that looked like and hourglass to Arson.


    Arson was surprised as all the figures stepped forward to be chosen from, and since he didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d only be able to choose one he chose the one with the hourglass like symbol as it was most foreign to him, and a prompt appeared.


    ¡°Arcane matter manipulation. To understand the art of creation itself, the seven basic elements should be known beforehand, shall you continue? Yes/No.¡±


    Arson smiled and clicked No before he clicked Fire.


    ¡°Fire. This element is by far the most understood, but that will change in time as all things do. Begin? Yes/No.¡± Arson, this time selected yes and was shocked when the first figure stepped forward and spoke.


    ¡°You are young, are you sure you would like to begin the process of teaching the body to understand flames is a pain filled path?¡± Arson nodded and the figure raised her hands. Arson did the same, unprepared for what was next. He didn¡¯t know if he should mirror the woman or not, then he heard a laugh come from the figure that made him weary to his core.


    A wave of flames was released in his direction. In a panic he shot at the wave with conductive waters. Two orbs pressed into one in a flash before Arson shot his projectile straight ahead into flames.


    The orb detonated and blew Arson off his feet. His body still somehow managed to be drenched in flames as he flew free of the area.


    When he woke up, everything hurt, and Troy stood over him. Arson saw flashes of a new affliction within the borders of his overlay called flame poison, and groaned in pain.


    ¡°Thank the Maiden¡¯s Light,¡± started Troy. Arson was glad to know she cared about him. He knew she didn¡¯t have to stick around him, or let him follow her around now that she was a more respected fighter, and loved that she didn¡¯t change.


    ¡°If I would have been the only one to get my rear handed to me I would have been annoyed, this place is great for sure¡­ still a death trap¡­¡± Arson burst into laughter as he took the girl in completely. She did have a black eye and a lot of bruises, but Troy¡¯s increased healing would take care of the damage in a few hours.


    ¡°I gotta go to work before I can rest,¡± said Arson. It took him a while to get to his feet. Longer than normal to get to the hole, and 6 hours to complete his regular 1 hours worth of work.


    Every inch of his body hurt, but not when he pushed himself to move. So six hours turned from 12 into 18, and he finally began to feel better.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    He wasn¡¯t healed at all. In fact all of the stacks of flame poison still remained, he¡¯d just managed to put the pain into the background of his mind through pure focus.


    ¡°You are still out here, do you not sleep dude,¡± Troy returned and Arson smiled.


    ¡°No actually, not since my core partially formed. The closest thing to sleep I have been able to achieve is the coma like state my body reaches when I heal myself.¡±


    ¡°Damn, you¡¯re lucky dude, if it wasn¡¯t for the weird energies that fill this place I wouldn¡¯t be able to train here at all. I charge up in the sun, and even during the beginning of my fighting career, had to pick days of the week to charge up in the daytime.¡±


    ¡°My body seems to love both the light of the sun and even more so the stars above us now, during sunrise sometimes, I feel invincible.¡±


    ¡°Well, Jade says you have to stop and come check on your people over a meal.¡± Arson nodded and found himself ready for the run back after only a few moments of being at rest.


    Troy slowed down of course to chat with Arson as they ran, but not by as much as she normally did. Arson brushed passed it when she made note of it, but not when Jade noted their quick return as well.


    ¡°Yeah, I suppose, Troy said I¡¯m moving a bit more quickly, but I haven¡¯t noticed anything different.¡±


    ¡°Gradual growth is often missed kid,¡± said Jade in the middle of bites to eat.


    They spoke more on it as they ate and Arson learned a lot about the body and even asked about Flame poisoning. Jade¡¯s smile filled Arson with fear when it didn¡¯t touch her eyes as it normally did, and he knew that was her true smile. The smile of a person powerful enough to snuff out a continent, a Keeper.


    ¡°All elements external to blood will poison the body, the more quickly the poison is absorbed, the more in tune with that element you are, so trust me the fact that your stacks haven¡¯t lowered is a good thing, I recommend that you find your most unaligned elements first, it will maximize the pain, but also the reward, as well as give you more time to form your foundation, You can only go through resistance training once, and that will form the pillars your power will stand upon for Cultivation within your body.¡±


    ¡°Why my most unaligned first?¡±


    ¡°The elements will be processed in order of saturation, so you want to stack the most difficult to process underneath the most easily processed, that way you can stuff as many elements into your body at a time as possible, which will allow for maximum saturation and the ability to both sense, and manifest more elements, these serve as the base for all elements in all of Uni-Vare.¡±


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t everyone do that like big brother Arson,¡± asked the twins simultaneously to Jade.


    ¡°For many reasons, but mostly they reach a pain threshold they can¡¯t manage and quit long before they touch every base element necessary for a direct connection to Uni-Vare to be formed.¡±


    Arson planned on doing exactly as Jade recommended, and was now grateful for both the pain that he used to focus as he sat and spoke with his¡­ friends. He still didn¡¯t know the names of the twins, but he never had to address them, they were seemingly enthralled by his every move or word.


    Wait, when did they start calling me big brother. Aren¡¯t they both teenagers?


    Arson rose with Troy from the table after Jasmine gave him a status report on the contract with Mr Kim. Arson was pleased to know that everything was going well, and made note that he needed to check on the equipment he had stored away in his storage.


    He hoped they were fixed and if they were, he needed to find a way to quickly unlock his profession. From what he gathered when he had the ability to do so a new window in his overlay would become available and he¡¯d have to choose.


    He wanted to be able to craft things like his holo-watch, spacial inventories, and more. So he hoped for a tinkerer profession with maybe an undiscovered magical tie to runes and enchantments. Not that he knew something like that was even possible.


    Still he daydreamed as he and Troy decided on whether or not to stick together, or go it alone again. Once Arson informed her that he wanted to attempt another element before he began to stat grind for the night, she decided to follow him and make sure he didn¡¯t die.


    Arson once again found himself in front of 11 men and women, who all seemed eager to inflict potentiallyobscene tortures.


    Unlike the time before Arson was only greeted by 10 of the wands. He expected this from what Jade told him would happen, none would truly train him in magic until his foundation was formed completely. So Arson made his second decision.


    ¡°Earth is known to all, but respected by a rare few, shall you gain understanding as to why earthen might is nearly unrivaled? Yes/No.¡±


    Arson chose yes, and was nearly immediately submerged into a quicksand that formed underneath his feet.


    He sunk so quickly that his arms couldn¡¯t move by the time Troy realized what had happened.


    In a panic after his hands went into the ground, and he was forced to raise his chin as his face nearly went under, Arson flooded the ground with conductive waters.


    He thought that maybe it would form a pool, and allow for him to swim out, but instead the ground solidified near immediately. Which left him locked in place as the earthen mana restricted his movements further in a vice grip of power.


    Then came Troy¡¯s laughter and Arson grumbled in annoyance. He couldn¡¯t move at all and the earthen stacks of mana only intensified the pain as he gained the same 9 stacks of poison his fire had given him, only in the earthen variety.


    ¡°Get me the sparks out of here!¡±


    It took a couple hours, but Arson escaped with Troy¡¯s help. They spent the rest of the night with Arson¡¯s rage at being swallowed by the ground and almost dying, by an utter annihilation of the nearby monsters in the area.


    Arson closed in on 20 thousand stat points and picked up the pace half way through the night.


    Troy noticed Arson pick up the pace and blurred around him to match his increased rate. The two became like a vortex fueled by explosions and light. Arson covered Troy¡¯s back and she guarded their perimeter like a sentinel.


    ¡°Should we go into a harder green zone?¡± Arson only shook his head as he spartan-kicked a robot off the top of a trash heap and shot it before it could hit the ground.


    ¡°No, if anything we should maybe train in the valley of the first until sunrise,¡± said Arson.


    So they did. Which Troy was grateful for with her first high bar fight being the following night.


    When they entered two Armor suits formed from broken sets scattered all over the place. Both with the title MMA Olympian above their heads. Arson assumed MMA stood for mixed martial arts from what Jade had explained, but had no time to think about it as one of two armor sets charged him.


    He was then brutalized for hours, and didn¡¯t manage to land a single spartan kick on the olympian.


    ¡°Damn, you guys come back more and more beat up with every night out. Are you sure you two aren¡¯t going to end up leaving us leader-less and broke?¡± Arson and Troy looked at Jasmine, before they shared a look.


    ¡°That is a possibility for sure, nothing is promised in the dump at night, Jasmine.¡±


    ¡°Then, I want you to take the twins with you at night, I know you said it is dangerous, but they are both Cultivators, and I¡¯d prefer that our meal ticket had a bit more safety in numbers, no offense Troy.¡±


    ¡°None taken, I wouldn¡¯t like it if I couldn¡¯t be out there with him either,¡± said Troy. Arson felt his face burn slightly and wondered if he let his concentration slip on his resistance training.


    ¡°I will think about it. We have a fight to go to tonight anyway. When I¡¯m done with work and Troy wakes up, you guys are more than welcome to come if you¡¯d like, and we can even talk about it later over dinner.¡±


    The group agreed and Jade offered Troy a room to sleep in while Arson, Jasmine and the twins worked. Arson nearly forgot to confirm with Jasmine but spoke with her before she left.


    ¡°Did you handle the payment to Mr. Kim for the delivery?¡± asked Arson. Jasmine huffed and nodded.


    ¡°I may have botched the numbers, but trust me, I won¡¯t let things like that happen more than once, I may not be a brainiac like you or Jade, but I¡¯m going to get the job done, I even worked out him picking up all of the completed goods, for free.¡±


    ¡°I see. Make sure he pays you for the entire completed contract upfront, and all at once, I may even sit in on that meeting for bureaucratic reasons,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll prove to you I can get it done by myself with time I guess,¡± said Jasmine as she turned her back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong Jasmine, I¡¯m sitting in on the meeting as support only, not to get in the way, I won¡¯t even speak unless you prompt me too.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± said Jasmine. She left without another word.


    Arson sold his nearly 35 mana cores to Jade and had to force himself not to stare at his balance of 2.1 million credits. When he asked how much he owed her in food, he was thankful for her answer.


    ¡°You¡¯ve increased my reported production by more than 1000% from your shovel alone, and I¡¯ve been taking the food budget out of the mana cores you sell to me, and giving you what is left after.¡± Arson smiled.


    ¡°Good, I¡¯d probably go without pay if I were forced to choose between it and your cooking. Thanks Jade.¡± Arson once again hugged the tall woman to her surprise and darted out the door.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be late for dinner, boy, you know I don¡¯t like,¡± started Jade.


    ¡°When people eat your food and it¡¯s cold, I know, bye momma Jade!¡± Arson was at the hole in record time and pushed his body to move.


    He worked through the pain of his elemental poisons, and felt rewarded for every movement.


    Arson was not aware of how quickly he was growing through his physical efforts, but his actions also deeply effected his soul realm. An aspect of his body, mind, and soul, he needed to pay more attention too.


    Within his soul realm, some elements weren¡¯t being converted into stats, but instead, fed the sun with an overabundance of life-force, mana, and even overcharged his natural cells with stamina.


    The mist that had once been slight, now formed a violent cloud around the frozen particle ring.


    Arson worked, and the sun ate, more and more, until the line of power that led to his first node began to swell. A thick braid of power formed, and was joined by near pure white gold lightning streaks.


    The line continued to strengthen until it formed a near peerless pillar. From the apex of the sun, to the face of the node itself.


    The only thing that marred its surface, were the intricate lines of runes that were smaller than atoms, which began to stretch across its exterior unseen. They came from the node, and worked their way down to the sun, with every breath Arson took.


    ¡°Yo Arson, come on, we have to get going to my fight soon!¡±


    Arson heaved his shovel once more and began his run back to Maelstrom City for the first time in what felt like weeks. He had a present to buy, and a fight to corner.


    ¡°Focus, Arson, this is only the beginning¡­¡±

 Chapter 11: The Cage

    Arson watched the octagon from an elevated box. He would have stayed ringside, but Troy didn¡¯t want the inside scoop on any of the seven fighters in the ring with her. So Arson took the opportunity to see everything from a high vantage point.


    Troy stood in place. Far unlike her normal, active persona in the ring, she held herself entirely different.


    Most in the ring either faced her directly or looked in her direction.


    ¡°It seems our princess has made a mess of things and angered some real opponents, people. Let¡¯s see how this one works out.¡± The announcer played with the crowd and before Arson knew it, the match began.


    ¡°Come on, Troy, can¡¯t be any sparking worse than the dump at night, right?¡± Arson didn¡¯t know how exactly on the nose he hit the situation at hand. Troy was completely in her element.


    A group of up and coming fighters chose this arena as a way to knock Troy out of the current winning streak she held. It was anyone¡¯s last chance to stop Troy¡¯s rematch with her rival, The Demon, her last hurdle before the upcoming city tournament. How bad of a choice they made they were truly unaware.


    Troy¡¯s body slowly began to fill with light and two opponents charged her at once. She performed the near exact punch and kick that the style 7 armor had executed on the two of them in the dump, which sent her first two enemies into the cage wall, hard.


    In a blur of motion, she stood in the center of the ring. This was known to be a direct challenge to all fighters in the cage. A mark against the honor of anyone that allowed for the action to even occur. For what person believed they could survive in such a position? Only the mighty¡­


    Most in the ring hadn¡¯t seen her move, in her more recent matches. With her low status in the professional arena, most in the crowd were also what Arson considered to be unaware. A category that included Arson.


    ¡°You¡¯ve kept your top speed a secret for a reason, right? So show us what you got, Troy.¡±


    She waited and at first none came, as they looked at one another to make the first move. Then Troy spoke.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry this up, I got a hot meal waiting for me, and I gotta go show someone upstairs what happens when you call a queen, princess¡­¡± They all charged. How dare she. Mock them all. They would show her, all seven of them thought.


    What occurred was far from simple, Troy combined a pressure point technique, a rotation fist technique, and a burst of light infusion for speed.


    To most onlookers, the bodies of the seven young men and women in the ring with Troy just, dropped. Limp forms slumped over instantly.


    To Arson who knew what to look for, he¡¯d counted maybe 6 or 7 of the 13 strikes Troy threw.


    The crowd erupted, and Troy walked straight out of the ring to the shock of everyone there. The exit was thought to be that of a new elite fighter¡¯s bravado, until¡­


    ¡°Excuse me, you¡¯re aren¡¯t allowed to be in here, young lady,¡± said the announcer. His voice came through the intercom system far more shaken than it had been.


    ¡°Oh, now it¡¯s young lady, I¡¯ll show you princess,¡± said Troy before a muffled sound was heard, followed by shrieking, and laughter from the crowd.


    Arson rolled his eyes and exited the viewing booth he¡¯d rented and looked for his friend before she was arrested.


    ¡°Looks like I got to apply for at least what like a mach 1. Naw I¡¯m not that fast yet but damn I feel fast, maybe a 3.5, I could definitely hit 0 to 60 in 3.5. Am I rambling? I think I¡¯m rambling,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°You¡¯re fine, it¡¯s fun to listen to you when you get excited about your fights, motivates me to do more at the dump, and I honestly believe you¡¯ll be able to get your mach 1 speed license in no time.¡±


    Troy stopped. They were almost back to the dump and Troy seemed to have a serious question on her mind.


    ¡°Arson, can I work with you, or for you, I promise I won¡¯t mind working for a kid like Jasmine does. I just think I would enjoy getting to help you turn that place around is all,¡± declared Troy.


    ¡°Jasmine does hate working for me, doesn¡¯t she?¡± said Arson. He felt slightly defeated about how things were going with Jasmine. They seemed to clash a lot, and Arson needed to show her that they were undoubtedly a team.


    They were friends, and work associates. It was obviously hard for Jasmine not to see Arson as seven, which wasn¡¯t a problem for Arson.


    He needed Jasmine¡¯s respect for his plan to work. The problem was their environment taught them not to trust. To her, Arson was a fluke and moments away from disintegration.


    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t mean to divert from what you asked, I honestly already assumed we were partners in this, and know that you are probably seeing something I¡¯m missing.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say she hates working for you, just finds it difficult, intelligence is intimidating to most, kid, you gotta remember that,¡± said Troy as she started to walk again. She wore a huge smile, which Arson hoped meant she shared in his view of them being equals. He felt he needed that from his friends more than anything else.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, whatever, heard it all before. As for you working with me, like I said, I already assumed you were. Jade kind of hinted at something like that anyway, she¡¯s probably the one who put the idea in your head for all we know. Keeper magic feels unreal sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t play like that man, her magic already spooks me sometimes¡­ ooh what house shall we live in today? Poof! New house!¡± Troy shook her head.


    ¡°Look, if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that I have seen her cook, I¡¯d believe it was some sort of magic because of how good it taste,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°You don¡¯t think she¡¯s fattening us up for some immortal Cultivation ritual that makes her look all young and beautiful like she does, do you?¡± asked Troy. Arson burst into laughter.


    ¡°No, but I¡¯ll ask just in case. I mean they never found the last team to work here,¡± said Arson. They both went silent and shared a look. Then burst into laughter again.


    Dinner went fantastic, and Arson had managed to pick out not one, but two presents for Almarine. One he restored slowly in his inventory, and the other he¡¯d bought.


    Now all he had to do was survive the night, dark poison, and a handful of other semi reasonable yet dangerous situations and give her the presents tomorrow.


    ¡°Are you sure you can handle all that poison at once, kid,¡± asked Jade over dinner.


    ¡°To be honest, no, I was actually going to ask you if there was anyway to insure that I could maximize the chances of surviving all the elements,¡± asked Arson. Jade smiled and shook her head.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°No, this is literally a test of how much pain you can endure, kid. It is why some Cultivators don¡¯t make it far in their paths, and others excel.¡± Arson¡¯s gaze dropped to the floor as he realized the implications of what Jade meant.


    ¡°My entire path starts here¡­,¡± mumbled Arson under his breath.


    ¡°Yes, yet you must know your breaking point and not exceed that. If you aren¡¯t meant for all the elements, you aren¡¯t meant for all the elements, but so far, you are doing very well. I honestly don¡¯t know that you won¡¯t complete the remainder with ease, your focus grows strong. I can see you fidget less and less against the pain as time passes,¡± said Jade as she lifted Arson¡¯s chin to look him in the eyes.


    ¡°Yes, momma Jade.¡± The woman smiled and gestured for him to finish his food.


    ¡°Hey Arson, I think we should talk, I¡¯m getting a lot of questions asked by the other groups now at the orphanage every time I stop by to pay dues, ¡° said Jasmine as she set down her utensils.


    ¡°What kind of questions?¡± Arson and Troy were almost saying the same things as often as the twins and didn¡¯t seem to mind, while others did. They merely shared a look and a smile.


    ¡°Well, I bought the twins new clothes of course, well¡­ I guess I should say fixed expensive clothes from the dump and gave them to the twins I mean, and now I¡¯m being hounded for job requests, permission to talk to you about other services you may need, all that kind of stuff.¡±


    ¡°Services I may need?¡±


    ¡°Well the kitchen staff heard from Troy that she found a better place to eat, and now believe she¡¯s being cooked for by a professional, which she is¡­,¡± said Jasmine with a gesture at Jade.


    ¡°Then you have the research assistants, that saw Arson carrying a Cultivation manual as if they aren¡¯t expensive, and they have further spread rumors,¡± continued Jasmine.


    ¡°Yeah, and we might have slipped up and been excited to talk about Troy¡¯s fight, apparently a lot of the orphans came to her cage match and saw Arson in an expensive viewing room,¡± said one of the twins. Arson looked over at them and they both smiled as innocently as possible.


    ¡°So how much of my plans have been spilled in the orphanage? Do all the groups know I¡¯m interested in them, or just some?¡±


    ¡°From what I can tell, it is just some for now, but that will change and fast,¡± said Jasmine. Arson frowned, and placed his elbows on the table before he steepled his fingers and rested his chin on them.


    ¡°Looks like I may have to increase the speed of my plans if I don¡¯t want to either lose the opportunity, or create my own competition in my peers. We orphans can¡¯t see money and not get involved sometimes, I¡¯ll have to think on this, but I do have to visit tomorrow morning anyway. I have my first formal work review,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Sparks and embers! Is that tomorrow? I have to be there, don¡¯t I?¡± asked Jade who sighed heavily at Arson¡¯s nod, but he also noted that she wore a sneer-like smile. He had learned a lot about the woman recently, and the smile filled Arson with a sense of mischief and excitement, even though she expressed annoyance at her required attendance.


    She¡¯d only previously smiled like that when she was enthusiastic about one of Arson¡¯s many suggested changes to the dump and junkyard. Or when he asked her for suggestions on how to further his training.


    ¡°Ok, we shall leave after breakfast,¡± said Jade, and the conversation continued.


    Arson felt that he would have to figure out a way to keep his own people in the loop, all while his new ideas and plans needed to be kept secret.


    Yes, the orphans were taught community over individuality, but that was merely on the surface. What happens in the orphanage, stays in the orphanage.


    ¡°You ready?¡± Arson nodded at Troy, and the two rose. They said their goodbyes for the night and made their way to the dump.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, dude?¡­ you¡¯re never this quiet, you¡¯re making me nervous, we about to go into a red zone or something crazy?¡±


    ¡°What? No. I¡¯m just wondering if Dark is the best option I can choose is all,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Jade didn¡¯t seem to think it was a bad idea,¡± responded Troy.


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing, she did break her normal pattern. Normally I state an absurd idea, and she hears my plans out, not a word, but today, she asked about my state of wellbeing, not in a way that made me concerned about what I¡¯d done, but what I was about to do,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Damn, that is deep. are you sure you aren¡¯t reading too much into her every word, though?¡± Arson shook his head before he responded.


    ¡°Not at all, normally with others in my past I would have said you are probably right, but Jade seems to scheme even more than I do, believe it or not.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ well, maybe she has reason to, from the way it seems, you don¡¯t have very much time to get through this process now that you started it, which makes me wonder what kind of and how many other elements I could have been attuned to, if I would have known about the process you are going through.¡±


    ¡°I agree, I honestly think it¡¯s why Jasmine wants the twins to come out with us, but I don¡¯t know if I can handle worrying about more orphans in the dump, I have a feeling that Jade will only respect those I bring, or that can survive in the dump overnight, I¡¯m stubborn and your naturally talented, but you know how some of us are.¡± Arson rambled, but felt listened to. He often felt he talked too much, but couldn¡¯t help himself. So Troy¡¯s open ear, regardless of his youth and physical demeanor, in a society that only respected power, was nice.


    He was able to quickly gain a lot of opportunities in his recent days, but Troy joined him in his adventure as he joined her in his, it was different to Arson.


    That perspective alone he knew was shared. Troy now gave him all the mana cores she had, and he didn¡¯t charge her a single credit to manage her. They were partners, and they knew it, near instinctively.


    They separated and Arson let loose. Loose in a way he¡¯d never felt he could before. It was an odd sensation of freedom while he fought, a freedom only rivaled by the power that rose in his chest.


    He felt a flow. A buildup of energy that made his body thrum, and begin to spark with twisted sun like tendrils.


    This brought more and more enemies toward Arson, but he ignored the number and squared his feet.


    ¡°Come on!¡± He roared and did his best to use the combat maneuvers used on him by the armor within the valley of the first styles. He was sloppy, and undisciplined, but he practiced, and practice, until the pain he felt was far in the background of his mind, and he was calm enough to contemplate his next choice of element.


    With each punch thrown, and kick that landed, Arson felt less tension in the choice he felt rang to be true.


    After a while he met up with Troy and they made their way once again toward another self-propelled torture of sorts.


    ¡°All in the name of power, right?¡± said Arson as he stepped into the boundary for the third time. Instinctually Arson felt that Dark would be the wrong choice, and chose the odd metal orb instead.


    Another figure asked if he was sure, he read over the prompt that told him it was precious metals, and Arson selected yes.


    What occurred next would haunt Arson for weeks to come, longer even. Not his wildest dream, nor any moment of fear-filled imagination, could have prepared him for it.


    Metals, gems, stones, and even strange crystals, shot from the earth. The different materials formed a trident, a weapon so beautiful Arson gasped at the mere sight of its creation before the instrument took him completely off his feet.


    The diamond tipped war trident pierced straight through his chest with a spurt of blood mirrored across three exit points. The death instrument shattered inside his torso and Arson wailed in instant agony.


    Troy screamed, but Arson lost so much of his life force in a single second, that he lost consciousness. Then the weapon began to break itself down further and tear through Arson¡¯s body piece by piece.


    Massive shards caused the young boy to scream in his sleep. The only thing that kept him alive, was the energy of the dump, and his increased regeneration from being under starlight.


    Troy tried not to vomit as his bones were twisted and popped out of place as foreign metals wrapped around his bones and entire skeletal frame. She could see the entire process and truly wondered if Arson would survive with every fragment¡¯s movement.


    He¡¯d stopped crying, and even his whimpers had died, but all that remained to give her hope, was the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.


    When Arson woke up it was to more pain than he ever thought could be possible for a single person to experience.


    For fire, the constant burn had been something Arson easily compared to the sensation caused by an intense workout. So, he easily pushed it into the back of his mind. Even though he could still feel it now.


    Earth, left him with the uncomfortable feeling of being covered in sand from head to toe perpetually, and Arson honestly hoped his future water poisoning would fix that symptom. If he made it any further that is. This new pain was nearly indescribable.


    He felt as if his body had been opened, twisted inside out, scraped raw; all before his bones were framed in glass shards. A breath before he¡¯d been stitched closed.


    There was no way he held as much blood as he had on him, in his body. At some point he¡¯d had to have produced more blood to bleed.


    ¡°Ow,¡± said Arson. He sat up. Slowly. So slowly, that Troy began to pace in place. Her obvious discomfort written on her panicked features.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡°what?¡± me, that thing tried to kill you, man, like for real. I don¡¯t think you are supposed to survive these encounters anymore after that show of absurdity,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Nope, probably not, but I got my next stack of poison, and wow, does this sparking suck. I don¡¯t know what kind of benefits all this will lead to, but man, I better end up being a Keeper or something cool like that,¡± said Arson with a laugh. Then Troy looked at him and around at the area that surrounded them and then back at him once more.


    ¡°What if that is exactly what you are signing up for, kid?¡± stated troy.


    ¡°Naw, no way, that would probably take a lot more than these, what, 11 tortures. It¡¯s gotta be way harder than that,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Ok, but what about all those other things she said about the Omni, spirit, magical kingdoms, forms, all kinds of stuff? What if Jade is just letting you follow a path similar to her own? All Keepers are obligated to raise prominent youths, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but she wouldn¡¯t pick an orphan Troy. That¡¯s way to political a position for someone without a prominent name,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Arson, you are the perfect candidate, you are a literal Omni, of the bloodline, if she makes you her next to lead, you¡¯d be named if you became a Keeper. Maybe not the same name as the royal family, but you¡¯d be named.¡±


    Arson stopped. His mind drifted momentarily as he began to wonder.


    Why was Jade so nice to him. She didn¡¯t truly need the mana cores, and from what Arson could tell, her only benefit of his work at the dump was that she could report the work to the city.


    Keepers could have as much or as little company as they wanted, and Jade wasn¡¯t the extroverted type from what Arson could tell. She was reserved, quiet, until she needed to be otherwise, and graceful to an unrivaled level.


    He felt suddenly smothered, not only by responsibility, but by a potential legacy. He was no Keeper, he was thrown away by the royal family for being too much. He couldn¡¯t ascend to a station that could rival that same family, could he?


    Arson felt like he was surrounded by enemies. He felt fear unlike Troy at being caged. He felt shackled by a crown that was his, yet felt like nothing but a decoration.


    Yet Jade seemed to be his way out. A wall to hide behind, a place to grow in silence¡­ Then he realized all she¡¯d done for him and it hit him all at once. Thoughts of terror flooded his mind alongside the sneer of his newest mentor.


    ¡°Am I the disciple of a sparking Keeper?!¡±

 Chapter 12: Declaration

    Arson and Troy walked into the cafeteria of the orphanage and both immediately changed their minds. The decision not to eat there an easy one because of they felt they were being received.


    Jade promised them lunch instead since she had to meet with Almarine and the rest of the orphans work on commission. This left the two without their normal breakfast, and only one real option otherwise.


    Arson hadn¡¯t felt what kind of attention his new clothes brought, but assumed they would still be seen as restored, not brand new. Instead, he assumed they would be considered vintage lines of name brand product.


    People who could buy expensive clothes were seen one way, but those who could buy clothes that were expensive because of their rarity, were seen another way entirely.


    Every stare in the room solidified the choice for him. Arson would wait to eat lunch. Troy seemed to share his opinion and had already exited.


    ¡°Come on kid, don¡¯t you have to talk with Rob?¡± said Troy as she walked into the kitchen. Arson walked passed the whispers that he could almost pick out with his newly enhanced ears. He rolled his eyes, but some of the things he heard were hard to completely ignore.


    ¡°They think you are selling drugs for a gang,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I heard,¡± said Rob. The young man did his best with the small space he had. He also only had one aid and the girl could barely keep up with the demands Rob made on her in what felt to Arson like an endless stream of tasks.


    ¡°Need another 12 whisked, stat, Brianna!¡±


    The girl fluttered around and managed to increase her pace even further to Arson¡¯s surprise; almost like she wanted to show off since they had company, but Arson couldn¡¯t be sure.


    Rob continued to cook eggs in an array of different ways, all while he kept up an entire conversation, in between his continual commands to Brianna.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t believe it but man the watch alone is a dead give away, and Troy, what are you his bodyguard for hire, you seem to clean up nicely too.¡± They shared a look and nodded.


    ¡°Rob, I¡¯m not in a gang, and to protect myself from potential competition¡­, can¡¯t tell you what I am doing until you either join or point me in the direction of a better cook than you who wants to make a lot of money.¡± As a testament to his skills and prowess, he continued to flip omelets, but managed to look Arson directly in the eyes.


    ¡°What are you getting into, kid?¡± asked Rob.


    ¡°Something that will make those around me stop calling me kid all the time,¡± said Arson. Rob chuckled. But Troy¡¯s blank expression and Arson¡¯s show of feigned confusion stopped him.


    ¡°There are many delivery services in the city and their only problem is one of two things. First, the drone operated services run into bugs which is natural, people bump into each other in crowds, so crowded air space is no different,¡± said Arson as he picked up an apple and slowly summoned conductive waters into his hand.


    ¡°this technology will have less errors, but is expensive and only offered in certain areas. Second are the man powered services, which are currently lacking man power, which raises the price, and with the areas they are offered, they are very dangerous positions to hold,¡± continued Arson. The apple dissolved in his hand, and Arson was surprised to feel an intake of mana.


    ¡°Which brings me to my plan. You cook, train cooks, that is what I need from you, I¡¯ll pay you 100k a week, and any of your hires 10k a week, up to 10, and have you seen Khalif around, I need to talk to him.¡± The orb formed in Arson¡¯s hand and he closed his fist around it until it exploded. The blast just barely contained by his small hand. Rob for the first time dropped a pan at the sound of the explosion, and Arson smiled. Rob merely looked at him then Troy before he asked,


    ¡°Are you sure this isn¡¯t a gang?¡±


    Troy smirked when she saw the alarmed faces of the children that gazed into the kitchen from the room over. Then shrugged.


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Arson made his way to his appointment. He was nervous, as he hadn¡¯t gotten to talk to Jade since his assumption that morning. He knew he could be wrong, but felt he wasn¡¯t.


    He didn¡¯t know the appropriate time to ask, and didn¡¯t feel the meeting would be the best place to make a mockery of himself if Jade had no intention to extend an offer of discipleship to him.


    ¡°Next,¡± said Almarine. Arson walked into the room and smiled at Jade. The woman rose to her feet and many in the crowd murmured at her appearance there. From what he could hear, it was beyond a rarity to see the Keeper of Maelstrom¡¯s dump make her way into the city for any reason, which only furthered Arson¡¯s suspicions.


    ¡°Thank you for joining us, young man. Next we have the request of your newest employer, Jade of CloudLake, may your master rest in peace,¡± said Almarine as she looked from Arson, then to Jade. Jade nodded at the woman and a few others on the board.


    ¡°You are here to give the first assessment for Arson the unnamed, he has worked for you for nearly half a season now, how is his¡ª¡± started Almarine.


    ¡°No need, as I¡¯ve paid his dues, if he is willing, I would like to have you process him into my custody immediately,,¡± said Jade to Arson¡¯s utter shock. He was only further blown away when she continued and the crowd¡¯s volume grew.


    ¡° He will be not only my disciple, but my heir as well.¡± The shock in the room became physical. Not only from Arson but most of the crowd and board as well.


    ¡°Well, he must have made a good impression then,¡± said Almarine. Jade looked back at Arson as she nodded.


    ¡°What do you say, kid, you already call me Momma Jade, we can make it legitimate, you¡¯ve already shown me more than enough to see you as my own son, know you to be my own son, said Jade with a point toward the watch she¡¯d given him. Arson once again felt strange about his watch and lifted it toward her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t deserve it Jade, there are many other children that would bring you far more honor,¡± said Arson with tears in his eyes. He didn¡¯t even know when he¡¯d started to cry, but only felt the tears after he realized Jade was also teary eyed.


    ¡°None.¡± Jade said, shaking her head.


    ¡°None who took a chance on my family¡¯s home as you have, my son, not as you have honored my ancestry, nor has any other been able to prove themselves worthy as you have by controlling my father¡¯s watch, and inspired people toward better as you do, young Arson. It has been a short time, but you are my son, and I would be honored for you to know me as your mother, young man. What do you say, you''re making me look crazy in front of people, boy,¡± said Jade with a laugh. Arson nodded. He turned to Almarine who also cried with a large smile on her face.


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    ¡°Shall he be named now, or will it wait? Is there a ceremony for this process?¡± asked Almarine. Apparently she was as clueless to the process as Arson. Neither had seen a Keeper adopt or pick a disciple in their short and long lifetimes, as it was a truly rare event.


    ¡°There is a ceremony when he enters the world of HonorBorn competition, but it¡­ well sorry I have never done this before and have a lot on my mind. These matters should go unsaid, and that is for completely different reasons, and should be done in private, although I have considered this for a long time now and I do have a name for him ready,¡¯ Jade looked at Arson and gave him a contemplative look. He was shocked to hear her ramble, and couldn¡¯t tell if the obvious excitement Jade displayed was an act, or true happiness at his acceptance of her as his mother.


    Before she spoke his mind had to ignore that her words indicated she considered a name for Arson for a long time, which was impossible, so he instead assumed she¡¯d considered what she would name her own children or disciples, long before they¡¯d met and felt he¡¯d burst at the seams in anticipation over his new name.


    ¡°Arson, named such as all who are born in this land without a name or title, I give you both my name and my title, with the exception that Arson will always remain a piece of what makes you, you, from henceforth you will be known as Sovereign Arson Omni,¡± said Jade. The room once again went silent and some were even confused. Sovereign, there was only one Sovereign that Arson knew of, and Omni was the family name of the Royal family, he¡¯d been cast out from.


    Arson was in a state of utter shock. From what had just happened Arson now knew two things he¡¯d only suspected were nothing but reality.


    One, the SunStorm Sovereign from his vision had just not only adopted him and chosen him as a disciple, she was related to him through a direct blood tie.


    ¡°Does this mean that young Sovereign will be entering into the competition of Scions,¡± asked Almarine. Jade only nodded and Arson¡¯s jaw dropped. Jade closed his mouth with a single finger, without a look in his direction and Arson focused on what happened next.


    ¡°I would also like to pay the rest of Troy¡¯s contract, she and the boy seem like a packaged deal and her freedom will help my son grow,¡± said Jade. Arson smiled deeply at the woman¡¯s words, and didn¡¯t miss the reddened cheeks the woman sported momentarily.


    ¡°Of course, that will be entirely up to her and we will have to talk to¡ª¡± started Almarine, but Troy¡¯s head poked into the large open doorway at the room¡¯s rear entrance and shrieked with excitement.


    ¡°I¡¯m going Miss Mary!¡±


    A brief time later, Arson walked through the orphanage with a smile on his face so large he felt he most likely looked like a drunken fool. He was on the prowl for two groups, one was the bookish, or the researcher kids that followed the path of science & magic offered through most school curriculums, and the Scapegrace,, a gang started by Khalif from what Arson knew, that consisted entirely of orphan Cultivators.


    He found Xani who pretty much ran the library at the orphanage. The girl flew overhead and landed a few hundred yards away from Arson who almost called out to her, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder before he could approach the girl. He was turned around by a silver haired young man just over 7 feet. It was Khalif and he didn¡¯t look happy.


    ¡°Hey Richie Rich, heard you¡¯ve been looking for me?¡±


    The next thing Arson knew, he had a bag over his head and was tied down by what he assumed to be four or five kids.


    ¡°What the sparks Khalif, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Shut it down with the yells, kid, we¡¯ll beat the sparks out of anyone who approaches.¡± Arson¡¯s mind drifted momentarily at what the threat entailed, but then he realized, maybe he didn¡¯t need help.


    You were looking for the Scapegrace Arson, they just found you first¡­


    After a few more moments of being carried around like a sack of potatoes. Arson was dropped into a seat and the bag was pulled off his head. Arson merely smiled at Khalif, who scowled back at him.


    Arson tried not to roll his eyes when they were done posturing. He¡¯d been tied firmly to a metal chair, and Arson wondered momentarily if he could melt the metal, before a snap of inspiration made him smile.


    Plan B is always my favorite, but I really hope Plan A works this time.


    ¡°What,¡± asked Arson.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you that,¡± said Khalif. Arson shrugged, and looked around at the other cloaked and masked youths that surrounded him.


    ¡°Stop the games, kid, you¡¯re making too many waves in the orphanage to be wasting my time. What do you want from Scapegrace?¡± said Khalif with a wave at the 20 people around.


    ¡°I need you to be bodyguards for my employees,¡± said Arson. He didn¡¯t expand, or speak further. He¡¯d stated his needs and felt that should and would be enough. He had no intention of being seen as weak by any, may that be potential friend, or potential foe.


    ¡°Ha,¡± said Khalif with a snort of laughter.


    ¡°What makes you think my gang is going to respect a kid enough to work for him. You think you can pay more than we make on the streets of Maelstrom,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°Well, I do pay well,¡± responded Arson, again he gave nothing further. He hadn¡¯t been in business long, and still had many steps between where he was and where he wanted to be. So took the time not to boast too carelessly. He didn¡¯t want to make a mark out of himself, especially in front of a criminal entity like Scapegrace.


    ¡°A gang needs more than money to follow, Arson, Loyalty, honor, and strength are respected above all else in my crew, and I can¡¯t promise that if I make them work for some weak kid who just started to cultivate and feels he needs a bigger pair of underwear, that it would be worth their time,¡± said Khalif. This caused everyone around them to laugh. The problem with the statement for Arson was that he couldn¡¯t feel their power at all. Even troy¡¯s ambient mana was strong enough to leak from her body and create a powerful aura.


    So either the gang was developed enough to hide their energy, auras, and presence entirely, or they were just weak. All of them¡­


    ¡°Well I¡¯m sure I could beat up everyone in here without too many issues,¡± said Arson as he rolled his neck to stretch as much as possible before he moved.


    ¡°Kid, you''re funny, no one is going to let you fight 20 or more people one on one in a gang, you might have a few skills now, but you¡¯re still one person to our literal mob,¡± said Khalif. Arson shrugged and at the same time conductive waters began to spray from his palms in a soft stream. Khalif¡¯s eyes squinted as he heard the sound of water, but Arson was already in motion.


    Let¡¯s hope we didn¡¯t just walk into a bunch of kids who know to aura suppress¡­, thought Arson to himself.


    ¡°What the sparks is that sound,¡± asked one of the gang members.


    Arson jumped in place and roared as he rotated himself in the air still connected to the chair. His body turned horizontal in a moment of weightlessness. Then, he dropped, smashing the metal chair they¡¯d placed him in directly into the ground and the conductive waters he¡¯d pooled below himself.


    The energy filled water ate through the ropes around his wrist and he performed a kick up before anyone truly had time to react.


    The Scapegrace¡¯s low energy levels told Arson that conductive waters would kill or maim the gang members, so he stuck to the teachings of the olympians in the Valley of the First style.


    A spin kick took out the nearest person to Arson¡¯s back, after his heel connected with their jaw. They were sent into a group behind themselves, and Arson charged into the group before anyone else could grab him.


    ¡°Boss, get this kid off me!¡± Arson had run up the body of his first foe and latched onto another young man, while standing on the teen¡¯s torso.


    The boy caught on fire from head to toe, only for Arson to breathe deeply even as gravity took hold and they teetered. The boy¡¯s eyes went wide as Arson drank flames, and then punched him cleanly in the nose.


    Arson¡¯s next attack was as fluid as the previous had been. He continued to chain his movements together, and launched off the gang member as his flames went out.


    Arson was in the air with another kick before his second opponent managed to hit the ground.


    Arson refused to be slowed or caught. Every hold they got him in, he broke. Nearly every punch or kick he blocked, parried or dodged, but the only person who managed to hit him, was Khalif.


    In a moment of desperation Khalif had grabbed Arson¡¯s long hair and punched him right in the eye. This further enraged Arson and his previous feeling about wearing kid gloves, vanished.


    The remaining 6 or 7 opponents scattered like rats when the enraged kid fired dozens of explosive water orbs at them.


    ¡°Come on!¡± Arson took a second to look around and realized the fight was over. He took deep breaths and straightened. Young men and women groaned in pain on the ground or stood at a distance in a perimeter around Khalif. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed and spoke.


    ¡°Sorry about that, maybe I should try and hire a more refined group of individuals, I don¡¯t know that you all could truly protect my people as you are now,¡± said Arson. Khalif looked around at his own people and then back to Arson.


    ¡°How the sparks are you this strong, kid, I¡¯ve been cultivating for almost a decade and can¡¯t move like that. There should be no way that you can.¡± Arson shook his head.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie and say that I don¡¯t have a few secrets, but none directly resulted in your loss, other than my daily training, which is truly no secret,¡± said Arson. One of his defeated opponents still tried to reach for his leg with a hand full of sparks. Arson¡¯s mind drifted to the apple he¡¯d dissolved earlier and he tried something as Khalif watched. Arson crouched and tested his new hypothesis.


    The orb of conductive waters formed in his hand and Arson put the orb in the path of the lightning as it sparked toward him. He was surprised to feel the mana being sucked from the energy and poured directly into his own body and core.


    ¡°What¡¯s the job? And what¡¯s the pay?¡± asked Khalif. Arson didn¡¯t look up as he drained mana from the sparks until the boy passed out and the energy dispersed.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know if I can give the same offer I had in mind previously, now I believe you all will need to pass a test,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°And if we pass, we get paid?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I plan on giving you 100k a week and 10k for each of your people a week, but only if you and yours can survive a night in the dump,¡± said Arson. He rose to his feet and headed toward the nearby window to see where he was.


    He found out they¡¯d taken him to the abandoned home left on the orphanage¡¯s property by the last orphan Keeper. He looked back at Khalif and those that surrounded the young man, and once again shrugged with a smile on his face before he walked off.


    ¡°You know where to find me.¡±

 Chapter 13: The Gate to Power

    Arson whistled as he looked for Xani, the girl was always hard to find as her constant magic practice kept her on the move.


    She was a prodigy in magic and was also the kind of talent Arson thought a person like Jade would adopt. Drive, intelligence, and calculative, all traits Arson didn¡¯t know he himself possessed.


    ¡°Took you long enough to find me,¡± said Xani from her seat on the roof¡¯s ledge. Arson approached her from behind and stepped up to stand on the ledge.


    ¡°Yeah, well, I can only do so many things at once and Khalif and his people skipped in line.¡±


    ¡°You got away with only a beat down, you should count yourself lucky,¡± said Xani as she looked up at his bruised eye. Arson nodded and decided to keep the fact that he¡¯d given the beatdown instead, to himself.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but that is besides the point, I¡¯m here to make you an offer,¡± said Arson as he crouched and rested his elbows on his knees, with a hand under his chin and the other afloat near his middle.


    ¡°What kind of offer, you know I won¡¯t join a gang, right?¡±


    ¡°Geez, I am only seven, I could not have been such a menace in that amount of time for you all to immediately assume I started a gang,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°As if, Arson! You blew up Gregory¡¯s birthday cake with 100 cherry bombs, you tried to start a gambling den in the basement only two summer cycles ago, and you¡¯ve lost more fights than you have won, but still seem to get into a scrape every other day,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°So I¡¯m automatically a career criminal,¡± said Arson with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Well, you chose the wrong Keeper to follow if that isn¡¯t what you are going for,¡± said Xani. Arson frowned, Xani knew more than most, so if she hinted at Jade being cut from stained cloths, it was true.


    ¡°What do you know?¡± She looked him in the eyes again as she flipped a page in her sketchbook and started to depict his features.


    ¡°Jade, formerly known as Elizabeth Carter, is known to be the only living descendant of Carter Omni, the literal patron god of criminals,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°No sparking way,¡± murmured Arson, unsure if he was intimidated by his mother¡¯s past, or exhilarated at the thought that the law hadn¡¯t been able to confine Jade in her youth.


    ¡°Yes, and Elizabeth Carter before she was given the Jade title, was probably CloudLake City¡¯s most notorious criminal youth, she took the title to avoid the Final Stop for the second time,¡± explained Xani simply while she drew Arson¡¯s face in many different expressions, as they spoke.


    Arson was shocked at the claims being spouted, but the problem was who shared the details. Xani was an epistemologist, a seeker of truth, these things wouldn¡¯t be shared otherwise. As her people believed lies, and rumors, were as evil as demons.


    ¡°Second time, how is that possible I thought once you were teleported into the prison train that you couldn¡¯t escape no matter what, you become a career criminal, you''re caught and never seen again, right?¡± Xani giggled at Arson¡¯s furrowed brow.


    ¡°Yeah, unless you destroy the train from the inside, derail it, and and slam it into a skyscraper, and that was her second escape, the first one is even more insane to believe actually occurred,¡± said Xani. She closed her sketchbook, and stepped into the air. Arson gasped as she floated nearby the rooftop.


    Arson hadn¡¯t looked down a single time because of how bad his fear of heights was. He only managed the top of trash heaps with the knowledge that he¡¯d climbed them and could probably fall off and roll to safety without harm.


    What Xani did now was Arson¡¯s greatest dream. To fly the skies and be freed from gravity¡¯s draw.


    ¡°Close your mouth, cutie, I¡¯ll teach you if you become strong enough. Now hurry up and make your offer?¡±


    ¡°I will hire you and the rest of the bookish that follow your direction for 100k and 10k prospectively, for all my crafting needs. I have some huge projects that I need help with and they are going to take a lot of work,¡± stated Arson. He had a spacial restoration device in mind that if completed would turn the dump into pure credits. Without Xani and the bookish, it would take a lot of untrusted sources, and Arson didn¡¯t have the time to network with his training schedule.


    ¡°Introverts don¡¯t like change, but most like money,¡± said Xani. Then she disappeared with the only proof that she¡¯d ever been there, was the sound barrier being broken in the distance. He sent her a payment offer and assumed if she signed and accepted, that she and her people could be relied on.


    ¡°Sparks I hope I learn to fly soon.¡± He glanced down and jumped back from the edge. Arson turned around and became dizzy. So dizzy in fact that he lost his balance.


    For Arson the next few moments of his life were a blur. He fell backward and a surge of energy muddled his entire mind. Within his soul realm a pillar of solid light broke forcefully through his soul node¡¯s gate and external energy surged into the space.


    Blood sprayed in every direction as mana pushed through his pores and forcefully ejected anything the energy felt lacked purity. His blood began to boil, as it was also changed through his every cell being consumed by mana.


    An even larger explosion bursted free of his body and would have threatened to even break his bones, if he wouldn¡¯t have undergone his last round of poisoning.


    His muscles split open as if torn. Blood vessels burst, while Arson¡¯s soul drank in mana from the environment.


    All of this occurred and Arson hadn¡¯t even completely drifted into a horizontal position in the air. By the time his head fell below his feet, his mind cleared and he woke up. Something was wrong as time seemed to slog forward at an incredibly slow pace.


    Which made Arson wonder if he was going to die. Still unaware of his internal changes, he entered his soul realm and gasped mentally.


    The inside of his soul realm shone with a bright light that painted the sky a sunset crimson, and golden white that dazzled the eyes. His core still converted energy into stat points, but Arson was confused where all the extra energy came from. He once again followed the line of power, the journey somehow took longer, and Arson struggled to look away from the pillar that had formed.


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    The runes seemed to speak to him but he didn¡¯t know what the language was, nor how to begin to decipher them. After what felt like a week, Arson made it to the soul node¡¯s gate, and found something far more interesting than the runes.


    Stars shot out of the node and entered his soul realm with every thought that passed through his mind.


    ¡°Are these stars the physical representation of my thoughts, within my soul?


    He didn¡¯t know what else to do, so he entered the gate, by pushing through the brilliant white light above.


    He felt as if his brain tingled as he entered his Cerebral realm for the first time. It felt like the first touch of warm water on his body when he showered on a cold day.


    When he entered the space, he saw a new area that at first confused him. With himself positioned at the center, many points of interest could be found.


    Below him, was a vortex that reminded him of images described as black holes in science texts he¡¯d seen in the library.


    He found himself afloat in a space that seemed to have four rounded walls. In addition to a domed ceiling and floor.


    Arson took in the odd symbols on the walls and then his eyes drifted toward the black vortex at the center of the spaces floor.


    The hard-light pillar poked through the hole and a beam of light could be seen connected from its pointed tip to a tree like pattern behind him. Its branches seemed to connect to every portion of the area, the light a beautiful web that spread above his head and beyond.


    To his left and right were what Arson could only describe as four saxophones connected by their mouth pieces. They both rotated clockwise, and a soft hum could be heard from their ends. Arson found this truly odd, until he concentrated on what was in front of him.


    The sky could be seen through two open windows, windows that seemed to have vortexes of their own that surrounded their edges, and Arson was momentarily lost in the stars that filled the portrait like images.


    Is that what I am looking at? Now that his cerebral realm had begun its creation, he¡¯d began to get instinctual sensations about the elements within his mind and soul. The same way he could tell the stars that poured into his soul were his thoughts, he could now tell that these were windows that led to Arson¡¯s mind and then his soul. The more he understood about the mental space, the more it solidified around him.


    The tree that represented his spine and neural network, transformed from the flat perspective he¡¯d seen originally, and solidified into a real tree. It then moved to position itself above the pillar of light.


    An even stronger connection was formed and the golden tree pulsed. Arson didn¡¯t know what he was doing, but his innate talent for ancient practices flared to life.


    Outside of Arson¡¯s body he¡¯d managed to fall an entire floor, but also triggered the creation of his mental core in full, which had an external effect.


    His pores and eyes drank in even more mana than ever before. His body needed it both to recover from the node he¡¯d opened, and to be able to handle the effect that made his mind perceive everything around him as slowly as it currently was.


    Arson knew he needed to do something, but his mind told him that to finish his mental core would be the most beneficial thing he could do. So he continued even as he fell.


    Inside his Cerebral realm, he focused on the saxophone like constructs, he correlated these two objects to sound and movement instinctually and the flattened objects transformed.


    One into a storm, that flew above the tree. Its precipitation was crystal clear, and the light it emitted only rivaled by the light that the tree itself created. Lightning shot outward from the cloud instead of down, in pulses that seemed to tell Arson his cardinal directions.


    The second of the two instruments, formed what felt like an ocean around the black hole itself.


    In the next instant, a tsunami-like wave burst into creation immediately under all the chaotic pressure at the perimeter of the water, which seemed to increase the intensity of the spacial vortex that the water surrounded even further.


    The final two pieces to his mental core creation distorted Arson¡¯s mind completely. One window became the sky itself, which also allowed Arson to see all around himself at once. The moment this happened his mind nearly shut down, until the second window moved. Once in place, it transformed into a halo that sat above the cloud, which sat above the tree, above the black hole, above the now perfectly aligned pillar of light that had extended itself from his soul into the limits of his Cerebral realm.


    Arson felt he¡¯d done something right, but then he felt very tired. He wasn¡¯t aware of how the effects of adrenaline on his body made his cores push his every cell into overdrive. His mind saw his current predicament as potentially his final, and had tried to give him every opportunity it could.


    Oddly enough, he saw a way out of his fall in the breath before he passed out. The path lit up to his eyes like a beacon. Every foothold and hand position given to him like a simple calculation.


    Problem was the abilities he¡¯d triggered were so far above his own body, he could make no move toward what he now knew to be a route to safety. So instead, Arson fell from 11 stories up.


    The sound of his body when it hit the ground is still in his memory, as his newly increased mental perception seemed to record everything that his mana touched around him, which by the cloud of ambient mana that his pores now leaked, was absolutely everything.


    His mind may have been dormant but his brain was not. So as he slept for the next week, all he heard in his mind over and over, was the sound of his own fall.


    When he woke up in the middle of a scream the following week. He vowed to himself, that he would learn to fly, and soon. As he knew he¡¯d survived by the skin of his teeth, and what had felt like a few drops of life force energy. Then he realized his watch had been ringing with a notification that indicated a payment invoice for over 1 million credits, and then a payroll invoice that immediately took 500k of his earnings in payroll. He rolled his eyes.


    Looks like the members of my team are hard at work, thought Arson to himself.


    ¡°Sparks, looks like it''s back to work.¡±


    From the strange bed Arson found himself in he used his Holo-watch to register his business with the CityNation of Maelstrom. With the assistance from the device¡¯s advanced functions, the complicated paperwork was simplified to a degree that allowed for the less experienced Arson to finish quickly.


    He hadn¡¯t known what he wanted to name his company but as he thought of what he wanted to do with the dump, a name came to him. He was inspired by what Jade had told him about the dump, and what the area could one day become. So he did what any other young boy would do in his situation and named his company the most terrifying thing he could think of, that also symbolized his new home.


    ¡°The Black Hole Conglomerate,¡± said Arson as he finished the digital paperwork.


    His company was registered as a merchant group, and had even managed to start the documents necessary to be an international exporter of goods. All that was left for him to do now, was build the funds required to finalize the registration, then he remembered the invoice that had woken him up, and laughed to himself before he gave away every credit he¡¯d just made.


    He stretched, ignored his growing list of Overlay notifications, which explained the changes to his soul and mind after he¡¯d broken open his first node gateway, and finished his mental core, all before he rolled out of bed and fell onto the ground.


    ¡°Ha, looks like the runt isn¡¯t quite healed yet¡±, came an unfamiliar voice. Arson rolled around on the floor, not yet able to stand, still under the effects of extreme mana exposure.


    ¡°What, who said that?¡± Arson spoke aloud to the room, but sensed no energies nearby. The home he was in seemed familiar, but Arson couldn¡¯t be sure because of how many houses Jade made appear and disappear with the wave of her hands. So a strange voice, in a foreign place, was to be expected to Arson.


    ¡°Geez, look down here kid,¡± said the voice. Arson looked down and saw nothing, until he noticed his watch.


    ¡°Hi, what¡¯s your name, I¡¯m kidding I already know your name, runt, but I wonder if you could guess mine?¡± Arson shook his head at the beautiful face. His mind flickered to what Jade had said about the watch¡¯s AI function, and he wondered if he should already have attempted to turn off the AI, as well as if the AI had been on and operational the entire time he¡¯d slept.


    ¡°Am I in trouble here?¡±


    ¡°No but I shouldn¡¯t be talking to you, Momma Jade warned me not to, I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Arson as he began to look for the controls to turn off the AI¡¯s systems. Controls that were absolutely no where to be found.


    ¡°Hmph, you are no fun, but it is nice to meet you Arson, I am Anastasia and I have a proposition for you.¡± Arson nodded as if he cared what the woman said, but still looked for her off switch.


    ¡°I need a body, and you¡¯re going to build me one, doesn¡¯t have to be now but for my illustrious services, it is my only requirement, it is either you do that, or, I tell your mother that you turned my systems on and deleted the coding linked to my off switch, in direct defiance of her commands¡­¡± Arson stopped his search and gaped at Anastasia. He didn¡¯t know exactly what to do, which bothered him. Arson was normally very decisive, but had only just been adopted.


    Jade should believe me over this sparking AI, right?


    He sat frozen, and began to nod slowly. He felt that he could get out of this situation with time, and experience, until then, he would use this AI to get ahead, as most cultivators gained guardian spirits and AI assistants much later in life. The reasons why still unknown to Arson.


    ¡°Ok, demon, but threaten to reveal your functionality in anyway to my mother again, and I will make sure you are destroyed, even if I do cherish what you are housed in, I value my relationship with Jade far more, do you understand?¡± Arson forced down the smile he felt tinge his lips at the sight of the disgruntled AI. Apparently the AI didn¡¯t like to be threatened in the same way she had just done to him, nor did she seem to like Arson¡¯s given nickname.


    ¡°I¡¯ve met demons, and I am far worse than any of those simple beasts, child, but¡­¡± Anastasia put on the smile that Arson felt that he hid. The AI¡¯s smile seemed far more dangerous than any glare Arson had ever received as Anastasia finished.


    ¡°You have a deal.¡±

 Chapter 13.6: Day 2 Part 3: Deliveries & Dynasties

    ¡°You think we won¡¯t remember this!¡±


    Khalif punched Remy for the last time, finally knocking his last opponent out. He¡¯d fought every last one of the Movers, down to the last woman and man. He¡¯d also fought a one-sided battle where he¡¯d be slowly brought down, and before the fight had begun in earnest he felt that to be his only fate.


    Yet with each target he took down during the altercation, the more unbalanced the odds became. Khalif was cut, kicked, and battered to the point that he limped out of the alleyway he¡¯d entered. A bloody hand print quickly dried on the edge of the alleyway¡¯s entrance left behind as Khalif balanced himself slightly; the young man looking back only once before he strolled off, pushing through the pain in his leg. Khalif unaware of an identical handprint left on the front of his once pristine collared white shirt. In his drowsy state, Khalif roamed back to where he¡¯d last felt comfortable, finding himself stumbling into the warehouse just beyond the edges of the City Dump and Junkyard.


    ¡°Hey man, how dare you ruin my gifts. Take that shirt off so I can clean it. Anyone know first aid or something?¡± Jasmine spoke to Khalif, but his eyes closed and he flopped over. Not a moment after he fell did the rest of his bodyguards-in-training run into the front door of the warehouse, frantic until they all froze at the sight of Khalif¡¯s snoring form.


    ¡°I know a little bit of first aid. You got a kit? Let me look at him,¡± said Troy stepping in behind the frozen ex-gang members. Everyone stared at Troy as one of the Bookish ran a first aid kit over to her, while she pushed through the crowd between her and Khalif.


    ¡°Sparks Khalif, what were you doing?¡±


    ¡°Taking on a dozen Movers in the southern edges of the bronze¡­ by the time we got there, he left already. They were all pretty banged up, but it looks like Khalif paid a price too,¡± said one of the guards.


    Jasmine shared a look with Troy before both young woman shook their heads slowly. Troy did her best to bandage up Khalif, but ended up lifting the young man over her shoulder after Jasmine got him clothed.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go see if Jade will let us use another one of those hibernation pods, and check on Arson. We can talk about this makeover idea or whatever you wanted to speak about another time ,yeah?¡± Jasmine nodded at Troy as she jogged off with Khalif in hand. The young woman was left with the bodyguards actively looking for direction from her. Jasmine did her best to remain calm and positive in a situation she felt to be entirely outside what should be expected of her. Yet feeling slightly rewarded by the chance to help others as they helped her.


    ¡°Look, we have a full team going right now, and we can knock this out, but how about a full uniform for you all, and whoever takes the deal looks for guards and laundry crew members tonight? Sound like a deal?¡±


    ¡­


    Khalif woke up in a hibernation pod, when looking around he could see that he was laid next to Arson, surrounded by people they both knew.


    Xani was there, Rob was there, and so was Jasmine. The three had a conversation nearby, but it wasn¡¯t until Khalif woke up and opened the door to the pod he was in that they even realized he was awake.


    ¡°Yo buddy, don¡¯t move so fast. You were pretty banged up not that long ago, and Jade said to make sure that you make a full recovery before we let you go anywhere,¡± Rob said moving quickly across the room to stop Khalif from jumping out of bed.


    Khalif gave a slow nod, feeling his head spin as he tried to sit up straight; quickly giving up before laying back down, the sensation of vertigo overwhelming to the point that Rob ended up being the one to close the pod door, Khalif¡¯s eyes already closed by the time Rob latched the hibernation pod shut.


    Before Rob could say another word, however, Khalif¡¯s eyes shot open and toward the sound of Arson¡¯s voice. Everyone else also turned toward the young master¡¯s hibernation pod.


    Shocked features shifted from excitement to confusion once the group all realized it wasn¡¯t Arson waking up and speaking that they heard, but instead a hologram was being projected across the surface of the pod.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening¡ª¡° Xani shushed Jasmine, and rushed toward the pod to hear what was being shown. A new recording being presented.


    ¡°So you said Rob was one of the most instrumental parts of your plan alongside Khalif. What is the move with both of them?¡± came Troy¡¯s voice loud and clear through the recording. Once more Arson and Troy could be seen amidst a horde of robots and ghostly phantoms sprinkled throughout the mass of enemies trying to overwhelm them both.


    ¡°Well Rob is most likely going to be one of the greatest chefs to ever live, quote me on that. One of my first memories as a child is him feeding me homemade baby food, and if I¡¯m being honest with myself, those meals stand out as more delicious than anything I¡¯ve had prepared elsewhere excluding Jade¡¯s own bloody delicacies.¡±


    ¡°So what are your plans? Just have a master chef cook for you all day everyday?¡±


    The pair on the recording went silent, forced to fight for their lives rather than continue their conversation. Both mentally giving their all to the combat, coming back to their brief exchanges between explosive scenes filled with overwhelming odds.


    The group watching completely captivated, the scenes being displayed by the AI within Arson¡¯s watch, real, but dramatized in a way through camera editing to consume all who watched.


    ¡°No, I¡¯d never waste his talent like that, I¡¯m going to trick him into starting the best food delivery service company in the Bronze, offering free food to get people addicted to his high level of cuisine and food production, and once he gets popular have him challenge the best chefs we can find any and everywhere,¡± Arson said with a casual confidence that moved Rob. The words between friends felt private, all who listened feeling privilege to hear the opinions of their shared new leader¡¯s intentions.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Oh yah, and what if he loses,¡± asked Troy truly asking with the expectation that something like appearance in the face of loss, and a societal view on weakness would slow Arson¡¯s response.


    Yet, the young man had loss many fights, only to feel that he¡¯d won many more after he¡¯d gained a core and access to an Overlay. Power was granted to him that he felt would be wrong to use against people with the meager understanding of what internal power meant, knowing no more in the end than he himself did.


    ¡°Losing means nothing for Rob. If he loses once, he¡¯ll learn enough from that one incident to win 10 more times, if he loses 10, that will make him win 100 face-offs. He¡¯s not like me, he¡¯ll fight stronger opponents rather than weaker ones,¡± said Arson, spartan kicking a robot in the chest, before firing a conductive water orb in its mid section. The mechanical warrior was sent flying, only to have its head crushed by one of Troy¡¯s summoned clones dropping from the sky and smashing the robot into the ground below with a powerful stomp.


    You would never fight someone weaker than yourself little buddy, without being agitated beyond reason first.


    Khalif laughed internally as he watched Arson¡¯s continued struggle with the foes around him.


    ¡°So you¡¯re going to start with a delivery service? That idea has honestly failed so many times in the Bronze already from what I¡¯ve seen, what makes yours any different?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where Khalif comes in, if he and his team manage to prove to be sufficient guards then we¡¯ll be able to overcome the one thing that my research has shown kills all delivery services in the Bronze,¡± started Arson.


    ¡°Not being protected between deliveries,¡± said Troy excitedly as if she just had a brilliant idea of her own, finishing Arson¡¯s explanation before he could himself.


    ¡°Exactly¡­¡±


    ¡°Between that and your laundry business with Jasmine you can do pretty well for yourself at a rather young age. Man, you should be proud of yourself,¡± said Troy, managing to perform a full body suplex on one of the many robots around them, smashing the unit into many of its fellow mechanical brethren as they charged her.


    ¡°Ha, you¡¯re funny. Jasmine can¡¯t wait to get offered a full time job by Kim. I love her to death, but she¡¯s not using her brain if she thinks she¡¯s going to do better working for Kim than being a head of one of my startups. I¡¯m¡­ not going to force anyone to be a part of greatness, nor do I have the time to try, it¡¯s her loss if she doesn¡¯t see what is at her fingertips!¡±


    ¡°Be nice, kiddo. It won¡¯t always be easy for older individuals to find it easy to respect your authority. Jasmine does seem to have a lot to prove, but so do I and everyone else on the team you¡¯re building. Jasmine will come around. Have you gotten to talk to her about starting a clothing company? I¡¯m sure that if she sees more of a future with you that she will eventually come around.¡±


    ¡°Naw, I¡¯d rather not get too tied to someone who is either going to leave at the first sign of greener lands, or build something with me to either snake it out from underneath me, or again, leave after all the hard work and experience gained to just try and make an even better version of what we¡¯ve already made. No, with Jasmine and maybe Xani, I have to wait to see where their hearts lie,¡± said Arson. Xani and Jasmine shared a look of sorrow, felt even more deeply due to Arson¡¯s currently afflicted state, but then Arson continued.


    ¡°Again, love them both, but Xani is a genius and I don¡¯t know what I really have to offer her other than resources and friendship. And with Jasmine, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing wrong for her to not respect or maybe believe in my want to do better than I have in the past, other than give her time and remain patient. I believe she could run her own fashion agency and more, just hope it doesn¡¯t backfire. I can put on a good front all I want, but that would crush my drive if either one of them left before we could do something truly amazing as a group, we just need to work together.¡±


    The hologram shut off and all in the room looked at one another. Each considered that they had received tremendous compliments from Arson, but even larger was the pressure of responsibility. It was easy for them all to latch onto the doubt that Arson had stated he felt. However, if they ignored what he believed was possible if they all united, even after the minor achievements they had completed in only a few days, they all knew they would be the ones to lose out in the end. All while Arson pushed relentlessly forward and maybe even left them all behind.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you, buddy¡­¡± Xani spoke directly to Arson, before she looked back toward the others gathered. Khalif didn¡¯t know what to say underneath the gazes of everyone there. Yet he felt the need to repeat Xani¡¯s words, the only thing running through his own mind.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you either¡­¡± Khalif pressed a hand to the glass on his pod in Arson¡¯s direction. Rob looked between Xani and Khalif, before he stepped forward, placing a hand on Arson¡¯s pod as well.


    ¡°You gave me a chance to do something real with my talent before I even knew exactly what to do myself, little buddy. I¡¯m not going anywhere¡­¡±


    The group heard sniffles and all turned to take in Jasmine furiously wiping tears from her face. She didn¡¯t immediately step up to Arson¡¯s pod, but after her sudden surge of tears passed, she sighed and stepped forward. Slow to put her hand out, but nodding with a finality directed to her decision as she did so.


    ¡°Sometimes I wish you were still some stupid little boy that I could ignore, but with every day that passes you become more dangerous and prideful than you¡¯ve ever been. It¡¯s harder not to be proud of you when you manage to do surprising and spectacular things, even with all you have working against you, but maybe I¡¯m just mad at myself for not being confident enough to believe that I¡¯m worth everything you see in me¡­ but know this little Arson, I¡¯m not leaving you either¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Jasmine stood alone in a room full of stockpiled clothing and couldn¡¯t help but feel both excitement and fear. She¡¯d heard what Arson had said in the hologram displayed from his watch and couldn¡¯t erase the feeling that she needed to be doing more than she already was. After leaving the room where she had discussed many things with the rest of Arson¡¯s team, Jasmine realized that the majority of the complaints she had that held any legitimacy, she already had ways to overcome.


    Her thoughts drifted to Arson, then her teammates. Remembering how everyone assumed what Arson was originally starting was a gang, even though Jasmine now wondered if he was trying to start a guild of sorts.


    Can we play on that somehow¡­?


    ¡°I mean Khalif is still practically a gang leader, Arson¡¯s mom is a literal princess of crime, and Arson¡¯s reputation is no better. Why shouldn¡¯t we have that make money for us,¡± mumbled Jasmine.


    She looked around at all the clothing she¡¯d gathered and even managed to set up like a mini department store, and slowly smiled.


    ¡°We have fresh clothing, we have the sophistication of a revered cartel,¡± Jasmine said brainstorming aloud to herself.


    ¡°But what should we call ourselves? Smooth criminals¡­? Naw, that¡¯s nothing but a played trend and you know it, Jazz. What about Fine Dressed Vagabonds¡­?¡± attempted Jasmine, only to roll her eyes at even speaking her last idea out loud. She yelled in frustration, feeling that the name of what she wanted to start would be the most vital aspect of Arson¡¯s team¡¯s entire clothing brand, only to have her thoughts cut off by Troy walking into the room with a knock on the open doorway.


    ¡°You okay¡­ hope I¡¯m not interrupting?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all, just a little frustrated trying to come up with a name for the clothing brand Arson was talking about. It¡¯s not like we don¡¯t have our own little fresh cartel of orphans all willing to model anything we put out, half the kids in the orphanage would stab one another for a new outfit,¡± said Jasmine. The room went silent for a moment, and Jasmine turned around to see Troy deep in contemplation.


    ¡°Well what are you here so late for, did you drop by for that make¡ª¡°


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you call it that,¡± Troy cut in to ask suddenly. Jasmine frowning in confusion at where Troy was trying to direct her.


    ¡°Call it what?¡±


    ¡°You said we have a fresh cartel of orphans, why not call it Fresh Cartel of Orphans,¡± asked Troy with a smile. Jasmine¡¯s eyes went wide momentarily before she shook her head and smiled.


    ¡°We may always be orphans, but we don¡¯t need others to see us that way, so how about we shorten it,¡± suggested Jasmine. Troy nodding, unable to keep the smile from her features, feeling more and more rewarded each time she was seen to be a help since working with the rest of Arson¡¯s team recently.


    ¡°So am I going to be the first one dressed by the future head of one of the newest up and coming name brands in fashion or what?¡±


    Jasmine smiled and nodded, waving for Troy to sit in a nearby comfortable chair near the center of the room.


    ¡°Of course, and since you¡¯re a genius and helped come up with our name, your first makeover is on me,¡± said Jasmine as Troy sat, both young woman smiling as Jasmine rushed around, picking out clothing for Troy to try.


    ¡°Thanks, so what does this include, hair, makeup, clothes, what?¡±


    Jasmine¡¯s smile broadened and she glanced toward a wall screen serving as a floor to ceiling mirror, then toward her own makeup bag by the door, knowing that her hair dressing scissors may be tucked far in the depths of her oversized purse, then back toward Troy.


    ¡°Welcome to Fresh Cartel, darling. Whatever your fashion needs may be, we will steal from the heavens themselves before you leave our company without any and all issues being resolved.¡±

 Chapter 14: Changes

    The next few days after Arson¡¯s recovery were incredibly difficult. One, because Arson had bitten off more than he could chew with his business. As well as the second reason, Jade.


    His mother was ruthless. She didn¡¯t let him idle for a moment longer than it took to eat a meal or wash his body. She¡¯d also begun to personally train him in different forms of martial combat, which Arson had to admit to himself that he loved, regardless of the difficulty.


    He found himself in a state of meditation that he¡¯d never experienced before, as Jade paced a small circle around him.


    She¡¯d forced him into some sort of stance with his legs spread wide, with his rear in a non-existent seat that left him in an awkward crouch, and his palms straight out in front of him.


    To make things worse, she balanced weighted mana cores on his head, shoulders, knees, the center of each of his extended arms, and in each of his hands.


    Yes, every second felt like a torturous slow burn he¡¯d never be able to escape, but it somehow curbed the sting of his poisons¡¯ pain drastically. So much in fact that he didn¡¯t want the exercise to end. Then a day passed and Arson began to wonder if it would end.


    ¡°You have done well, but I can tell your mind is adrift, what¡¯s the problem,¡± said Jade. Arson opened his eyes and gave a struggled look, when he almost moved his head and dropped the cores spread across his body.


    In the next instance the cores levitated enough to allow for Arson to move and he sighed with relief as he crumpled to the ground.


    ¡°Mr Kim¡­ I guess he was only helping us when he believed that Jasmine would one day become his own scion, now that she¡¯s taken a few contracts in a more solidified and professional way, I believe that has left the man either threatened, which I doubt, or so incredibly annoyed, that he¡¯s trying to shut us down entirely. If it weren¡¯t for Rob, Khalif, and my mana core hunts for you, I¡¯d be broke already.¡± Jade nodded and smiled as she stretched her arms out wide.


    ¡°When anything is possible, the realm opens up to those who see no boundaries or hurdles, no excuse worth empowering, no problem as such, only the readiness to overcome, everything guides them forward. It seems like to me, you have all the pieces you need to reach a new peak, my son, just open your eyes.¡±


    Arson thought for a moment and tried to change his perspective. Jade often gave him complete philosophical answers at every opportunity. She wanted him to think, and he wanted to learn how to remain open.


    Arson hadn¡¯t been able to use his ability to seemingly slow time since his fall, and didn¡¯t know why. Jade felt it to be a block in his perception of what he feels is possible and safe in his mind.


    ¡°You used a new ability in a life or death situation, and even though it may have been grand, powerful even, it let you down, you may have created a mental blockade against an ability you feel has failed you,¡± is what Jade had told him. He didn¡¯t know why his subconscious would do that, could do that, or should ever do that again. It made him feel as if he¡¯d lost a piece of himself.


    Jade told him that he must realign his mind, and he¡¯d been trying to ever since. He¡¯d reached a state of openness as he fell, and wanted to be able to access the state as he pleased, but for now he was forced to put it in the background


    He needed to fix his businesses, as the efforts had become disjointed, and he knew he¡¯d only succeed if all of his people were on a unified front.


    ¡°I need to have a meeting of the minds, can I invite the whole group over for dinner?¡±


    Later that same day, Arson found himself at the opposing end of a very large table from Jade. Rob and his seven helpers used the kitchen that Jade taught them in. A punishment Rob still both thanked him for and hoped he wouldn¡¯t one day regret.


    Rob now knew that Jade was an unrivaled talent in the world when it came to food, and learned to perfect his skills quickly underneath her hawk-like gaze. As Jade wouldn¡¯t allow culinary mistakes to flourish within the walls of her kitchen.


    Xani sat to Arson¡¯s right, followed by her two yet to be introduced helpers. Then Jasmine and the twins.


    While to his left sat, Troy, Khalif, two of his ScapeGrace members, and the rest of the seats were for Rob and his seven to fill after they were done with the preparations.


    ¡°So¡­,¡± said Arson to start the meeting when Rob sat down and left the rest to his kitchen staff. He looked around and all wore different expressions as they waited for him to continue.


    ¡°Let me start with this, I appreciate all your efforts while I was asleep and in recovery, none of you did anything excessive without conferring with either Troy or Jade which I do appreciate, but we still have a long way to go, I honestly need a status report from all of you,¡± said Arson. Troy smiled, but everyone else looked apprehensive. Arson didn¡¯t like the grimace on Khalif¡¯s face, and knew there would be a story behind it.


    ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll go first,¡± started Troy when no one else spoke up.


    ¡°I won my last two fights, so it was easy to spread the word about our services as we spoke about, I¡¯m still working on getting you the paperwork to become a sponsor for the tournament coming up, but we will still need a name,¡± said Troy. Arson smiled back at her and nodded before she looked at Khalif and nudged him to speak. Khalif cleared his thought and began slowly.


    ¡°Me and Rob,, keep getting robbed¡­¡± Arson¡¯s brow furrowed and he looked between the two young men, with the assumption that more would come, but they stayed silent.


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    ¡°Robbed by who,¡± Arson finally asked after a brief silence.


    ¡°Other gangs that don¡¯t like how Khalif and his crew work for a Keeper¡¯s kid, and literally joined up into some sort of super gang union, and rob all of the runners we send out¡­,¡± said Rob. Jade chuckled and Arson couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    ¡°What? It¡¯s cute,¡± said Jade. She shrugged and waved for Khalif to continue when Arson looked at her.


    ¡°Your little advertisement scheme works, I hate it, but it does, I still don¡¯t see why you¡¯re just giving away free food, but we have more repeat orders than first time buyers by a large margin, so one free meal up front is small compared to the near five or six orders a day some people put in,¡± said Rob.


    ¡°Yeah, I have to agree, we are moving around with so many credits at a time that it makes it worth while for these guys to come at our two to three person groups with upwards of ten. Not many orphans are going to die over keeping someone else¡¯s credits no matter how well you pay them,¡± said Khalif. Arson noted that Xani and Jade nodded at Khalif¡¯s words and he took extra time to digest that portion of what he was being told.


    He then looked to the twins and Jasmine. The twins looked at him with expectations in their eyes, while Jasmine looked truly excited for the first time in his direction.


    ¡°Do you know what I say when I walk in to a new clients office for the first time,¡± asked Jasmine. Arson looked around at the room for an answer before he guessed, as no-one seemed to have the answer but Jasmine.


    ¡°Umm, Hello, I¡¯m Jasmine and I have a beautiful service I¡¯d like to offer you?¡± Jasmine immediately shook her head slowly with a large smile that seem to grow as the moment went on.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have to say a thing, most times I¡¯m escorted to some management office, I place down a contract, they aren¡¯t high enough in the hierarchy to handle deals that large, then I am moved up the chain anywhere from two to four maybe even seven more times, and then it''s signed.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°I work for a mini Carter Omni in the making from what I can tell¡­ and I think most people are just afraid to make your mom mad which is a plus, and also you have three of the fastest growing businesses in Maelstrom as well in your control for the most part,¡±


    ¡°Three businesses,¡± said Arson quickly to push the conversation forward. He¡¯d seen Jade wince at Jasmine¡¯s comment about Carter Omni, and didn¡¯t want to press the situation.


    ¡°Yes, your idea worked, I¡¯ve been able to mimic a restoration field in a handful of desks now, thousands of pounds of trash go into the giant container at a time at the center of the warehouse, and we literally just wait for items to pop up in the inventory section of the modules at each station, pluck them and sort the items one by one, something I plan on streamlining over time,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°So we are building an inventory for the store I planned on opening, but I don¡¯t see how that counts as a third business quite yet?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s because I¡¯ve sold out of most of the clothing that we have recovered so far, I apologize but I did take the liberty of naming your clothing brand, Fresh Cartel, or FC for short. It¡¯s made you a little over 31 million credits so far, and that¡¯s because we are limited by the amount of available work stations, Xani is working on that but I¡¯m not going to push her as she has stated you want her focused on the restoration systems and understanding them more,¡± said Jasmine to Arson¡¯s utter shock. He admitted to himself that he didn¡¯t like that she¡¯d taken liberties he wasn¡¯t aware of, but didn¡¯t regret his earlier compliment to his group. Jasmine did a lot, but it resulted in success, and that he should be proud of.


    ¡°I¡¯ve only mimicked a basic restoration system for now, which is why not only don¡¯t we have control over how many desks we can turn into stations, but any more than the two more I have planned for now would be a waste. Regardless the rarest items are still being restored and housed,¡± said Xani. Arson couldn¡¯t help but smile, especially as everyone began to send him the invoices for all of the money he made while he slept and later trained. He had to forcibly keep his mouth closed as he glanced at the 71 million credits he now owned.


    ¡°Well, I have a few questions and suggestions,¡± said Arson. Everyone at the table took a break from the meal and looked his way. The entire group had sat now and Arson felt odd with so many eyes on him at once.


    ¡°Xani, I¡¯d like for you to take a group and find as many of the old tandem hover bike frames at the edge of the junkyard as you can, they aren¡¯t popular anymore, but might benefit us, Khalif, you should send some people with her, but not too many, I¡¯m going to see if we can make our people a little bit more illusive before I see it fit to counter strike this gang, said Arson. Xani and Khalif both gave an affirmative, and Arson moved on.


    ¡°Jasmine, I¡¯ve considered it, and if the twins can survive in a green zone as the members of ScapeGrace have, then sure I will allow them to back me up in certain areas within the dump at night. I noticed you mentioned nothing about Mr. Kim, is he still an issue?¡±


    ¡°Sparks yes, but I don¡¯t really care, the work speaks for itself, and so does the number of buyers of the restored product we have. A lot of rich cultivators are going wild over styles they haven¡¯t seen in hundreds of cycles,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°So have we solidified ourselves as a quality laundry service, or simply run from a powerful opponent for now,¡± asked Arson, truly in a need for the level of backlash he may encounter from the situation.


    ¡°Both, we don¡¯t want to bother Mr. Kim, so we are taking absolutely every small client he turns down, and making a killing while doing it,¡± said Jasmine. Nothing seemed to be able to bother the girl, and Arson honestly could say he liked her new energy.


    ¡°Rob, I suggest you start doing research on mobile kitchens, I think the extra Bookish that Xani wanted to bring in can work on crafting both something to defend your chefs, and their guards, while it allows for you to provide top shelf food practically anywhere,¡± said Arson as he gave his mother 25 million credits electronically.


    His food budget was large but Rob and his people hadn¡¯t put as much of a dent into the budget as he thought originally. Apparently when you cook beyond a grand master level, your time in a kitchen becomes rather expensive. So his food cost was reasonable, but the cost of his mother¡¯s free time was not.


    Arson didn¡¯t care though as he was in order to gain a lot more as Rob gained further skill, which he did pass along to his sous-chef Brianna, and the others on his crew.


    Arson had plans to figure out how to make a space to grow his ingredients, and knew that some company or another had to have actually implemented into their own processes, the same ideas he currently only played with in his mind.


    He needed to take things slow, but first he had a rival gang to try and work things out with, or Arson may have to commit his first raid. Arson looked up with a smile at the thought of the legalized vigilante law, and tried not to laugh when Khalif spoke up.


    ¡°Hey, is anyone else bothered by the look he gets on his face sometimes, the last time he smiled like that I caught all the sparks.¡±


    Arson spent the rest of the day in the dump. He needed time to himself to think. His plans were large and needed room to grow. Room that Xani and the Bookish¡¯s efforts would soon provide.


    Large mountains of trash had been removed from the area around Jade¡¯s warehouse, and grass had again began to grow in the space. Arson envisioned gardens, perfectly paved paths, and even decorative water fountains around the building and smiled.


    Jade offered any land cleared by Arson and his group to be used for their needs, and even a nearby empty field that Arson immediately had plans for.


    He believed that once he renovated the older warehouse¡¯s architectural design, and had Jasmine decorate the interior with Xani¡¯s help, he would have a truly magnificent storefront for the Black Hole Conglomerate.


    After he managed to settle his thoughts, Arson rose to his feet and joined the others as they gathered in front of the warehouse. More than just his businesses needed to improve, and quickly, as Jade had begun to mention more and more, that Arson would not only be in school soon after summer ended, and with that came the tournament of scions.


    Arson had fear about competing with the other HonorBorn families of Maelstrom. He didn¡¯t want to let his mother down, or his friends. So rather than being crushed by the pressure, he decided to take action.


    Stay idle, even within the sun¡¯s glory for too long, and the shade of those mightier than yourself shall consume you.


    Arson looked around and received nods from his friends before he smiled and spoke. He may not want to endanger those that accompanied him, and may be about to try and scare his friends from ever wanting to enter the depths of the dump again, but¡­ he still didn¡¯t think that discouraging them outright would work either. So he shot for uplifting, yet still semi terrifying, the familiar phrase he chose enough to ease tension, yet raise the internal alarm bells of those gathered.


    ¡°Procrastination?!¡± The quote made the orphans smile as they knew exactly how to respond, yet the phrase had been used only when their orphan mother expected her children to give whatever challenge she handed them their all, so they also knew the next steps would not be easy. Regardless their response was filled with energy and excitement.


    ¡°Procrasti what, not in this nation!¡±

 Chapter 15: Blood of my Blood

    When Arson stepped into the first kingdom of magic once more, he felt an odd excitement. Troy was once again with him, but so were many others.


    Khalif, and the twins also were there, alongside a few others Arson still couldn¡¯t remember the names of.


    He wanted to scare as many of them away from the area as possible, but so far it hadn¡¯t worked. He was already surprised by the group of seven that entered the dump every night.


    The group often changed, as most needed more sleep than Arson and Troy, which they both assumed was because of their affinities toward illumination. They were always charged up and ready to go. With the exception being Troy after her fights, she always slept at least a handful of hours after each competition.


    Arson had almost gone through another round of poison without her, but when he¡¯d shared his plan her glare told him not to. Both she and Jade filled him with varied levels of fear, but fear none the less.


    ¡°Nature is what it is,¡± read Arson aloud, while he chose his next poison. He wasn¡¯t even able to move an inch before the spearlike branch tore through his belly button. The branch sprouted from the ground in front of him like a spear and attempted to rip straight through his body.


    Instead the point was stopped by his newly-metallic spine, and seeds were released into his blood stream. The effect that would normally take hours took moments, as normally the tip of the branch, commonly known to be the most poisonous part, exited the body.


    Arson did his best not to black out, as his remaining red blood cells were eaten by his overabundant white cells, while they were further infused with mana.


    This pain for Arson was foreign. He¡¯d been beaten, cut, burned and more, but this pain was still different.


    To Arson, it felt as if his entire body was a scab and if it were possible, he¡¯d try to rip his own skin off to see if the itchy sensation would stop. The sensation ran bone deep and made him sweat as he tried to focus. He forced himself to enter his cerebral realm, and found that things had changed once again.


    He¡¯d apparently realigned his mind and soul, and now the night sky itself could be seen starlit in the halo above all else.


    Arson lost himself in the sight of a sunlit sky, that seemed to wrap itself around a portal to another place entirely within his mind.


    Then his focus was pulled toward the tree that now spat golden white spores in every direction. Some floated toward the black hole and roots of the tree. Some toward the storm above the tree, and even throughout the air of the space.


    ¡°Sparks! I wish this stuff had a ¡°for simpletons¡± guide,¡± said Arson mentally, only for the words to ring through the space, and make him giggle with joy as the vibration of his voice and laughter tickled him. Before Arson could correlate the sensation of what he felt, he was pulled from his mind as the branch was pulled from his body.


    The branch was pulled back into the earth with a squelch, and Arson¡¯s now glimmering golden white blood, splattered from his stomach and all over the ground.


    Everyone behind him gasped in audible awe as his belly button closed and left peerless skin as if he¡¯d never had one, and grass grew higher in the area at his feet.


    ¡°Yo,¡± said Khalif. Everyone in the area looked at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me that you have done this how many times now? Three? No wait four now, right? How hard is it to take you down really, kid?¡± Arson shrugged and exited,. He¡¯d nearly attempted another poison, but didn¡¯t know how that would affect him after undergoing such an obviously large change to his body.


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    He hadn¡¯t felt the last poison, but knew it had affected him the most of all he¡¯d taken in so far. His blood pulsed with power and he wanted to move.


    ¡°You guys want to find out?¡±


    Arson had only been playing around when he¡¯d asked his friends if they¡¯d wanted to test out how hard it was to bring him down. Now, he stood surrounded by pretty much every one he liked or at least considered a decent person. All of whom were ready to try and beat the sparks out of his entire being.


    To be honest, he was only truly worried about Troy¡­, before the fight began. Then Jade arrived and it seemed to make his friends, hungry for blood.


    Arson then realized, the battle had already began. His adrenaline pumped so high that everything around him had slowed incredibly. Whatever skill he used caused his mana to visibly drain in the overlay in the corner of his vision.


    Arson howled upward, and a pulse of energy bloomed from his chest. He watched the bloom ripple outward and knock everyone off their feet. He giggled to himself, and felt a beat thrum to life in his head.


    He had to force his mind to increase his perception of time. It somehow got in the way of his ability to move correctly, and he needed to take advantage of his current situation without hinderance.


    He dashed toward Troy and grabbed her by the ankles before she had time to react and spun.


    ¡°By the sparks, Arson, what the-¡± Troy yelled as she was flung bodily into Khalif. He had no opportunity to get on his feet either, and Arson knew who he should be worried about for the most part.


    The twins were a wild card, and so were the couple brought by Khalif, but Arson didn¡¯t give anyone time to think.


    He fired conductive water orbs toward everyone, or at least in their paths. The explosions caught most off guard, but Arson smiled as he could tell he had pissed Troy off.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare run, sparking little runt!¡± grumbled Troy. She bobbed and weaved through the explosions, unlike the others around.


    Khalif barely stayed on his feet, the boy twin was on his rear and Arson lost the girl twin.


    The fact he didn¡¯t know where the girl nor Khalif¡¯s additions were bothered him.


    Then Arson felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and he struck out behind himself with a sweep.


    The kick knocked the girl twin off her feet, and Arson fired at the ground.


    An explosion sent the girl and Khalif¡¯s group all in different directions. The gang members had also found their way behind him.


    Then he was kicked into the air so hard he flew end over end for a handful of seconds and crash landed into a trash heap.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to do better than that, Arson!¡± Arson knew Troy was already on the move and decided that he wanted to win, even if he hurt himself to do so.


    He emerged from the trash heap and held an orb the size of an exercise ball. The violent water struggled to keep its form, and Arson threw it anyway.


    He¡¯d lobbed the energy up high, and ran in the same direction. Directly toward the entire group.


    The group once again scattered, as Arson charged two more orbs.


    None got far enough away that what Arson had planned, wouldn¡¯t affect them, but he hadn¡¯t known the vast difference between his power before, and his current abilities.


    He positioned himself under the giant orb of energy, and smashed the two additional orbs into the larger one.


    When his hands met, another halo of energy was released. The golden white light moved slow in Arson¡¯s vision, but he knew that was because he had his perception of time slowed incredibly to see what his attack would do.


    Then he felt that something was wrong, the energy was a little different than it had been with less water. This water seemed much more, chaotic, like the waves of a storm.


    He tried to draw back in the chaotic burst of mana, and somehow managed to make things worse. A vortex formed between him and the halo of energy with him at the center.


    As he roared and tried to pull, the energy around him did the same. Almost as if his mana mimicked his own intentions. Luckily for Arson and his friends, his mother was there.


    The sound of a snapped finger echoed out and the area, and Jade strode into the middle of their battle with a huge smile on her face. Arson¡¯s halo of energy froze in place and stopped a fingernail¡¯s length away from Troy¡¯s serious gaze.


    Arson stood in the middle of the still very active vortex of mana, hunched over, as he gasped with every breath. It took a while but his body began to drink in what was around him, every drop of available mana absorbed by his pores in a handful of breaths.


    ¡°It seems I will have to increase the training of your friends or you may kill them, child,¡± said Jade with a hearty laugh. The others looked at each other and grimaced.


    ¡°Reminds me of my own childhood. Once upon a time all my friends turned on me because they believed I was stealing their power,¡± stated Jade plainly as she rolled her eyes.


    ¡°If only they knew what they¡¯d had a chance at,¡± finished Jade as she lowered herself to meet Arson¡¯s dread-filled eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done nothing wrong. Just be careful when playing with friends, buddy. You are no longer what you once were. You are mana blooded now, remember that.¡± Jade pressed a finger to his heart, stomach and then the center of his head before she hugged him, kissed him on the forehead and laughed.


    ¡°Come, children, it is time to train.¡±

 Chapter 16: Thoroughbred

    Arson loved to be trained by Jade, and so did Troy, but the others¡­ did not.


    Jade had no understanding of the normalcy that they¡¯d become accustomed to with a life in society. It was savage and cutthroat, but Jade came from a place with no perception of fair, or right or wrong, only power, corruption and purity.


    So when the very young Arson heard, run with boulders, he saw no reason not to. The others, saw unreal expectations.


    ¡°Are you expecting me to keep this up all sparking day, kid, we may have to renegotiate my pay,¡± roared Khalif. The silver haired young man carried a boulder twice the size of Arson¡¯s own, and had decided to comment on it often. Arson let it go as he wasn¡¯t being outright laughed at.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, talk to Cultivator¡¯s resources over there,¡± said Arson with a gun and a jutted chin in Jade¡¯s direction. They ran, and the woman seemed to be more determined than usual to tire the group out completely.


    Arson wouldn¡¯t stop until his body gave out and the others seemed to have something to prove to Jade, which was merely Arson¡¯s assumption.


    Arson and Khalif were once again lapped by Troy who ran with a boulder two times bigger than Khalif¡¯s own. Khalif rolled his eyes, and Arson gave more of an effort to move faster through the track.


    Night would soon arrive, and that didn¡¯t necessarily mean their training would be complete. Arson feared what it would be like to maneuver through the area with the boulder on his back, and shuttered at the potential of not being able to defend himself.


    ¡°Then a friendly and familiar voice rang through the air and Arson smiled at the sweet fragrance of fruit that bloomed in the air alongside it.


    ¡°Hello young ones, it seems I have caught you all hard at work,¡± said Almarine. She stood near Jade and exhaled a blue cloud of fog from her lips.


    Arson¡¯s first gift had been a device made to break down mana particles into a smoke that gave the brain the same effects of nicotine or marijuana, but fed the brain and lungs, rather than damaged the organs.


    The gift had been perfect for the woman as it needed to be powered by water mana. As it was the only mana type that could create the filter within the center of the hoop shaped smoking device. Others would have to have a water mana Cultivator refill the device when it ran dry, but Almarine wouldn¡¯t mind. She was a water mana Cultivator of the highest known prestige within Maelstrom.


    His second gift was a framed portrait of Arson and Troy the night she¡¯d won her first fight. Arson had his friend strike a victorious pose, and acted as if he was being choked in her one handed grip for the picture. Troy also signed it in hopes that her signature would one day hold value.


    ¡°Hello to you as well,¡± said Jade. Arson noticed his mother didn¡¯t look away from them, which told him keep to his task and there¡¯d be no issues.


    ¡°Hello Ms. Mari,¡± yelled the orphans and Arson.


    ¡°I assume that you all aren¡¯t going to come home for dinner. If so, I wondered if I may dine with you all,¡± asked Almarine. Arson was surprised that Almarine would ever ask to dine with them, she was a Keeper. Keepers dined on some of the finest cuisine Maelstrom could offer, and his orphan mother was no exception to the luxury.


    ¡°Dine with us? I am afraid that we may not be able to accommodate, Ma¡¯am,¡± said Rob. He worked on his knife skills behind Jade, and wasn¡¯t given any slack either. He tried to take things easy with her back turned and learned why not to with something Jade called, lightning reinforcement.


    ¡°If it is credits I can-¡± started Almarine.


    ¡°No ma¡¯am, we have been hired as the main catering service for the Mana Well tonight, we have to cook for nearly 15 thousand attendees, people reserved plates almost a season ago for this event, the only person who could make you a plate would be Jade and¡­,¡± said Rob with a glance toward Jade who shook her head.


    ¡°Sorry Ms. Mari, she is going to be helping me supervise the crew. We haven¡¯t done something this large, ever and I don¡¯t want to be the one to make Arson look bad,¡± said Rob, before he went back to his cuts. He¡¯d formed a beautiful swan in fewer than a dozen chops at a large onion, and even Almarine marveled at the creation.


    Arson frowned at what he¡¯d heard Rob say, but even more by what came next. Troy blew by Arson and Khalif again, and he and Khalif did the same to the twins then the members of ScapeGrace, and the cycle continued while the Keepers spoke.


    ¡°Have they noticed it yet?¡± asked Almarine.


    ¡°No,¡± said Jade. The flat response told Arson that Jade truly was focused on the task at hand and refused to be distracted by anything beyond a simple conversation. Jade was an introvert, yes, but never rude, only driven and unintentionally overwhelming in presence.


    ¡°They will with time, they may even realize it soon,¡± said Jade. She then called for all of them to stop and pay their respect to Almarine.


    The twins and the members of ScapeGrace went first, then Troy. She dropped her boulder and the thud sounded like a bookshelves worth of books had been dropped on a table.


    Troy hugged Ms. Mari, and moved out of the way for Khalif. Khalif dropped his boulder and a slightly less impressive thud was emanated from his own rock, and he grunted before he straightened.


    He looked back at Arson¡¯s own boulder and laughed before he walked up to Almarine and hugged her. He almost spoke before Arson dropped his boulder.


    The boom cracked the ground where the boulder landed and everyone except Jade and Almarine almost fell over.


    Almarine laughed and it was then that everyone as well as Arson looked at the rocks. All of them seemed pretty ordinary. The only differences were the sizes, and the fact that Arson¡¯s rock was a deep red color that he¡¯d only just noticed emitted light.


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    Troy walked over to the rock and tried to nudge the red stone, only for it not to move at all. With how small the material was, they¡¯d all assumed it to be lighter than their own boulders, but instead Arson¡¯s own was by far the most dense.


    ¡°Arson¡¯s stone will most likely always be the heaviest, unless you all use a Sovereign mana stone as well, it draws in ambient mana in the air and from whatever it touches to grow in both weight and size, as large as that one is, it is most likely around two maybe three tons already,¡± explained Almarine. Khalif looked at Arson a moment before he shook his head and sighed.


    ¡°How much would it cost for me and the members of ScapeGrace that I bring along to train using those stones. Are there even any more available for use,¡± asked Khalif to Jade. She waved a hand toward Arson before she spoke.


    ¡°Ask your friend and associate, it is only by his grace that you train here and under my tutelage.¡±


    ¡°We can talk later, Khalif. For now we should probably get back to it, but I am glad to see that you like your present Ms. Mari,¡± said Arson. He bowed toward his orphan mother, before he took a knee and dipped his head in Jade¡¯s direction. He was being trained in many categories of nobility by Jade for social appearances, but many of the requirements had already molded changes into Arson¡¯s characteristics.


    Arson struggled momentarily to once more lift the red boulder, then began to run once more. This time Arson moved with a reignited vigor that he couldn¡¯t help but wonder about. Did it come from the energy of those around him and how they seemed to look at him differently now, or the pride he felt at his recent accomplishments when the two Keepers spoke about him? He was unsure.


    ¡°Are you sure there is nothing I can do to join you all this evening,¡± asked Almarine. Jade rolled her eyes and looked at Rob who smiled back at her.


    ¡°We may be able to work something out if you can manage to get a viewing box for yourself, I will send Rob and some of the new kitchen trainees to serve and cook for you personally, otherwise I have to house a few noble families since Arson is a Scion now. Honestly forgot how much was involved with having disciples, but henceforth I will make sure you always have a seat at my table,¡± said Jade.


    ¡°Thank you, you honor me, venerable one,¡± said Almarine. Jade only nodded, and still managed to keep her eyes on the group as they ran once again.


    ¡°He is the best thing for them all it seems,¡± said Almarine.


    ¡°He is where he should have been all along,¡± replied Jade immediately. Arson had no possible clue what Jade could mean by her statement, but guessed it was because of their assumed shared bloodline. Still his orphan mother¡¯s response left him even more confused.


    ¡°Well I¡¯m sure you are happy to have him back in your life, as my quest to keep him from you was the only truly difficult thing I have ever faced in my life,¡± said Almarine. Arson wondered if the women didn¡¯t care that they could be overheard, but then realized he was more than a football fields length away.


    ¡°This farce created by the system will be uprooted at its core when my son rises through the ranks of the Scions, we both know what he is,¡± said Jade, in the same moment she made direct eye contact with Arson across the distance.


    ¡°You believe he is¡ª¡° started Almarine. Jade raised a hand and stopped the woman.


    ¡°The children have guest, and it seems Sovereign can hear us,¡± said Jade as she snapped her fingers loud enough for them all too hear. Arson didn¡¯t know why he felt shivers at the use of his newly given first name, but he was definitely affected.


    He¡¯d begun to have all those that knew him as Arson, continue to call him his original name in private, but in public use his proper name.


    ¡°What a sight, what a sight!¡± A girl on a literal cloud floated into the open area Jade had set up, and Arson couldn¡¯t help but be annoyed by the intruder. It made him wish it was pitch black outside, as most people would stay far away after a single sight of the dump after sundown.


    He didn¡¯t know when he started to feel that way about the dump, he just did. Where others saw trash, he saw literal treasure. All it needed was attention, and this land would bring a new option to the city to help others grow and be rewarded as Almarine had, with the orphanage. Only Arson would do it with luxuries forgotten, but not lost.


    ¡°If you would believe it, we have come across a sighting of exceptional rarity, it¡¯s not only two Keepers in the same place willingly, it is a new Scion and a few unnamed individuals, alongside our target, Troy the Queen of Light!¡± Arson looked around after a crowd of people could suddenly be heard in an uproar of cheers.


    It was then that he noticed the camera that flew around the girl¡¯s body and took pictures. The item marked her position as one of the many idols in competition for independent celebrity in the city. She wouldn¡¯t be able to afford a camera if she didn¡¯t have a large following, but large still didn¡¯t mean much with how truly massive the population of the realm was. Known, in one city, could be completely foreign in any neighboring cities.


    ¡°Today you know we are here to confirm the rumor of Maelstroms newest speed tester, she is known to be a savage competitor and the second most likely to win tonight¡¯s cage match at the Mana Well, there¡¯s a passport in my stream bio for tickets, promo code, Lane Coin!¡± The girl Arson assumed to be Lane zoned in on Troy and begun to orbit her as she asked Troy questions.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind doing a speed test for us, would you? It would be for a license, I am a certified skill tester, and the fans would love a demonstration, especially with how strong your opponents will be. Some are saying that you shouldn¡¯t be that high on the odds to win you know,¡± said Lane as she nodded to the camera as if to confirm her own words were true with the action. Arson chuckled and the air distorted slightly around him. He was as shocked as everyone else was, but his new training kept his features as stoic as possible for the cycles old Arson.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny Mr. Sovereign?¡± said Lane with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°The fact that you think I¡¯m going to let Troy make the mistake of showing you the results of her training from her last fight to now,¡± said Arson before he looked at Troy.


    ¡°The license only requires that you show your speed in a 100 meter dash, I recommend that you make this chick get an exclusive from one of the suckers you¡¯re going to pummel tonight. What¡¯s the guy¡¯s name again?¡± said Arson.


    ¡°The Demon,¡± said Troy. Arson smiled as she closed her hands into fist at the mention of the name alone. She¡¯d been fired up for this fight in a way that even surprised Arson, who¡¯d seen how much better of a fighter she was now that Jade had gotten her hands on her.


    ¡°Yeah, go get the Demon to show off for your fans. We need to get back to training as soon as possible and if Troy isn¡¯t ready for a license, nothing you say will change that,¡± said Arson. Troy smiled and nodded before she looked at Lane.


    ¡°He¡¯s the boss, and even if he wasn¡¯t I wouldn¡¯t be dumb enough to display my new speed to a camera,¡± said Troy. Lane shrugged to the camera, said her goodbyes to her fans before she sighed and turned off the floating device.


    ¡°You guys are even more rigid than the nobles, even that kid Lucas showed me a new lightning spell he¡¯s been working on, you already beat him and even he wasn¡¯t afraid to show me a new move or two, you sure I can¡¯t talk you into at least a few frames of action?¡±


    ¡°How about this, you become the main broadcaster for our group,¡± said Troy on a whim. One that Arson couldn¡¯t help but completely support. Even if he didn¡¯t know the girl in front of him.


    They needed a way to grow their exposure. Rob and his people made more money from repeat customers than new foot traffic. Jasmin could only meet so many clients at a time. While Arson and Xani spent more time brainstorming and testing ideas than anything else in their free time.


    Without someone like Lane, their group would remain modestly sized even if they gained the help of every orphan in the city. Arson knew it deep down, and though he wanted to remain as small as possible within his inner circle, Lane could be a reasonable addition, if she fit in, that is.


    ¡°Follow around a bunch of potential psychos that train in a dump and junkyard, yay, why didn¡¯t you ask me sooner,¡± said Lane with an eye roll.


    ¡°I hate to say it Ms. Coin, but you¡¯d be dumb not to follow the kid over there,¡± said Khalif with a point in Arson¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Oh yeah, the runt hasn¡¯t said much, and even what I¡¯ve heard so far isn¡¯t any different than any of the other young elites,¡± said Lane.


    ¡°Yeah, and how many of those elites are worth more than 100 million credits in less than a season, no hand outs, no obscene favors from family members, just hard work and determination,¡± asked Rob. Lane opened her mouth to speak up but then Khalif cut in.


    ¡°I¡¯ve honestly considered dissolving my own gang and becoming a sector of full time body guards, in whatever this is we are all building,¡± said Khalif. Arson frowned. He didn¡¯t know if Khalif had complimented him or just stated a semi realization as he had it. His facial expression seemed shocked as if he was surprised by what he¡¯d said.


    ¡°Wow, was that hard for you Khalif? You look like someone just told you that they found your long lost parents,¡± said Arson. Khalif raised two fingers at him and he laughed.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what it is like following someone younger than you, nor what it is like to see your hard work pay off, while others try and fail every day,¡± said Troy. Arson knew she came from a good place when he met her eyes and she smiled back at him. She was only being honest and though he felt hurt, it was only because of his fear of loss when it came to the people around him.


    ¡°I will only push forward if you all come along, what¡¯s the point otherwise, I¡¯d end up bored and adopting brats like us anyway if I was forced to do this alone, hey wait can I really do that,¡± Arson asked himself aloud, but still couldn¡¯t help but look at Almarine. He looked back to Lane quickly after he physically shook the thought from his head. He didn¡¯t want to end up as some sort of child worker, and a potentially free work force was something he needed to stay far away from.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what they see in me, but I am what I am, nothing more, nothing less, but I can promise you that following any other group of builders will be boring comparatively,¡± said Arson. Lane looked around at all of them, before she asked a single question.


    ¡°Builders?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, all of us,¡± said Troy with a gesture around herself and then to Arson, who spoke up once more.


    ¡°The Builders of Godhood, it¡¯s our guild, and the primary force behind my company, the BlackHole Conglomerate.¡±

 Chapter 17: Flag on the Play

    The ManaWell was at maximum capacity. Arson looked around from the even more lavish viewing box than those he¡¯d experienced alone previously. Only now he was with Jade and the rest of the now named Builders.


    He couldn¡¯t get the conversation he¡¯d had with Troy moments earlier out of his head, and he even grew nervous instinctually about the fight. An intangible energy seemed to cloud his mind and left him with a sense of impending danger.


    Troy had told him about her own fears about the fight. How many times in her youth she¡¯d been beaten by the same young man she was about to face, and why she¡¯d began to run. Run from everything that made her feel the slightest bit of struggle or annoyance. Eventually she ended up always in flight, from everything, which included matters of even her own health and longevity.


    After Arson¡¯s poisonings however, Troy no longer felt she could run. What she¡¯d seen him do had changed him, as well as her.


    So much in fact that Troy worried that she may be flagged for sandbagging. Unlicensed individuals in the areas of strength, speed, and mana would only be forgiven once in the regard for facing a weaker opponent, and then would be forced to receive a license.


    This insured that opponents were of similar rank and overall skill¡­ or at least it was supposed to. Arson saw the truth being almost the complete opposite over the past few weeks of Troy¡¯s fights


    Maybe the fights are less crooked in the professional fighting divisions?


    He¡¯d originally rolled his eyes at Troy¡¯s worries over being too strong for the intro divisions set up, but with the intensity of Troy¡¯s gaze, he began to wonder how far she would take her planned vengeance. As someone who had been her practice dummy for what she intended that night, Arson prayed she didn¡¯t kill her opponent.


    ¡°You did say that the division was rigged, so what if their arenas are only set up for one power house at a time,¡± mumbled Arson to himself. He cursed at the thought, and decided to trust that his friend had the situation under control.


    ¡°Welcome to the stage, Troy, the Queen of Light, and founding member of the newly formed, Builders of Godhood!¡± The announcer didn¡¯t dare say anything but what had been prepared about Troy after the last time she¡¯d gotten a hand on him, but Arson still smiled at the fear in his voice with each time he announced her.


    ¡°And last but not least is the champion of the outer city, he without name or origin, the undertaker of Maelstrom, The Demon!¡± The crowd erupted and a young man only slightly larger than Arson himself entered the cage and joined the seven others within. Only this time, it was he who walked into the center of the ring, even before the match had a chance to begin.


    ¡°It seems the Demon is out for blood people, let¡¯s see where this goes!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about this one folks,¡± said Lane in a whispered announcer¡¯s voice of her own. She¡¯d taken on a contract with Arson and Troy to begin with, but Arson felt that the girl would change her mind quickly about the inclusion of all the guild members.


    With what he and Xani had planned for the Builders in the next few days, he would be surprised if they didn¡¯t shake the foundation of the city. From what Arson suspected, things like what they had planned had been done before, but not to the same scale as they intended, nor for the group that his guild and businesses intended to service.


    He had to force his mind to focus on the match. The night was about Troy, and Arson wanted to be as supportive as he could be. He¡¯d begun to feel that his own accomplishments had left his friends slightly jealous, which was fine, as long as it didn¡¯t grow into envy is what Jade told him, and Arson agreed.


    ¡°Place your final bets now, folks. There are only a handful of moments until the match will begin.¡± Arson came to his feet and began to pace in the aisle way behind everyone¡¯s seats. Jade gave him a look, but she left him to himself after he shrugged at her unable to escape his restlessness.


    He found it more and more difficult to sit still the stronger he became, and wondered if that would ever change. He didn¡¯t mind always being in motion, but it did seem to bother others in his presence in settings that required more civilized behaviors.


    Before he could once again find himself distracted, the match began and Arson stopped pacing as he took in the fight below. The blonde haired boy named, The Demon, looked around with pure black eyes. Arms crossed he slowly rotated in the cage and stopped when he faced a random individual.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that you made it this far, Troy,¡± said the Demon. He lifted his hand toward the young man in front of himself and the teen shrieked in terror as he was yanked off his feet.


    ¡°I mean¡­ wow. You signed up for this even after what I did to you the last time. I mean it, you¡¯re brave, child¡­¡± The young man¡¯s throat slid directly into the Demon¡¯s grasp, before he was choke slammed.


    Arson hadn¡¯t known the use of telekinesis was even legal in the division Troy fought in, but moved passed it mentally as her and the Demon moved.


    ¡°Sorry, Lucas,¡± said Troy, before she vanished and reappeared nearly on the other side of the cage and took her first rival out of the match with a single punch. The blow was performed so quickly that only a dozen or so people in the audience could even perceive what occurred.


    Troy grabbed the unconscious young man before his body hit the floor and his elemental flames sputtered out. She set him down gently and smiled at the face the Demon made.


    She knew her new speed was absurd comparative to what it had been, but the silence of the crowd confirmed that she was no longer the same Troy they all were used to.


    The Troy that had run from every roadblock. The Troy who needed no one. The same person who now felt completely different, and knew why.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to slap the sparking 1s and 0s out of your genetic code, kid, for myself and the honor of my guild,¡± said Troy with a point toward the Demon. She didn¡¯t take her eyes off of him for a moment. Even as she managed to blur pass two other opponents and knock them out cold; she stared him down.


    The Demon stood his ground and pulled more targets toward himself . Some were slammed overhead by the Demon unnecessarily, their ankles caught in his incredible grip. He simply pointed a palm toward his target, and like magic, he held another limb or person he felt to be just another toy in his hand. A plaything to be tossed around or destroyed.


    While a few were literally either flung toward Troy or directly onto the cage, others felt like mere weapons when their own bodies were used like clubs made of meat and bone.


    The Demon swung a winged girl that tried to swoop toward him, into another challenger by her wing. The crowd winced at the girl¡¯s shock and scream of pain and terror.


    The match changed from a battle of many, into a duel after the Demon¡¯s one sided punishment continued further. Troy tried to keep her smile to herself once she realized that she would truly be given the chance to get revenge on her long tormentor this day, but fell far short of the attempt.


    Her smile ended up so big the crowd even cheered when they saw it displayed across the screens above the cage. She hadn¡¯t stopped moving for a single breath since the match started, and it was then that Arson knew the Demon noted that Troy hadn¡¯t tired, nor did it seem that she would.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Let¡¯s hope your natural absorption doesn¡¯t cause any unforeseen problems Troy, otherwise you¡¯ve got this, come on, I know you do¡­, thought Arson to himself.


    ¡°Thought you would have hit me by now,¡± yelled Troy across the ring.


    ¡°You really are faster now,¡± said the Demon, then he reached a hand out toward Troy. In a direct threat. She slowed through the air, arm extended in a superman punch toward her foe, a breath before she came to a complete stop.


    It was like she¡¯d been wrapped up in an invisible grip mid air that held her there, but just as the Demon opened his mouth to speak¡­ she vanished. With a roar and a burst of light, she reappeared as if she¡¯d teleported directly behind the Demon.


    Arson knew she couldn¡¯t teleport yet, but the flashy movements still mimicked teleportation, flawlessly. The head kick she attempted was also blocked by an unseen force, but Troy continued to vanish and appear elsewhere in a rapid blur of movements and attacks.


    When that wasn¡¯t enough, she begun to summon HardLight clones of herself that copied her movements entirely. The flurry of attacks rang with every blow as Troy beat the barrier at the speed of an erratic drum solo.


    The clones were full bodied and dazzled the eye with their constant change of color and illumination. Some made it hard to see with how bright they were, while others were hard to see, with how deep their vibrancy was. Often the clones made it hard to tell where attacks from other clones would come from, which only helped Troy distract her opponent further.


    At first the Demon seemed unaffected, but after a few dozen breaths and even more failed strikes in Troy¡¯s direction, his anger could be seen as it rippled off him in waves of power and force. Then Troy landed the first punch of many.


    The Demon was lifted off the ground momentarily by an uppercut to his mid section. Troy blurred, before she wrapped her arms around his thighs from behind and suplexed the young man onto his neck. Even before he could realize what occurred, two HardLight clones appeared from thin air above them both, and heel dropped the Demon in the face, all before Troy let him go.


    Their bodies had created an arc in the instance before the Demon had eaten two heels and Troy vanished yet again to let him flop onto the arena floor. The crowd boomed with celebration as Troy flickered through the cage, and the Demon slowly tried to rise.


    ¡°By the sparks of the maiden, this is a literal first folks, I don¡¯t believe we at the ManaWell have ever seen the Demon be treated in this manner!¡±


    The crowd exploded in another uproar of cheers and booing. Arson¡¯s eyes took in the match for its entirety. He¡¯d slowed his perception down as much as he could, as the high mana cost wasn¡¯t as bad when he wasn¡¯t also using conductive waters.


    ¡°You dare!¡± yelled the Demon as he came to his feet without the use of his own body. Only, telekinesis, and raw power were used to move him like a puppet, and left his movements far from natural.


    You see Troy, he couldn¡¯t even stand up without the use of mana just then, kick this rust bucket in the spark plug, roared Arson internally.


    Now that Arson looked at him, he wondered if his physique had been crafted by the continual use of telekinesis on his own body, and what sort of weaknesses that would result through the action.


    Jade had explained it in one of her many random lectures, but when Arson faced his very next challenge the lesson seemed to fit perfectly nearly every time. Why he now felt he should be aware of the potential weakness, disturbed him though.


    He wasn¡¯t in the ring, nor did he plan to join. Troy was apparently incredibly angry, and had just been loosed on a worthy target.


    The Demon sent out a dome of pressure in a pulse over and over as he chuckled. He stared Troy down and beat his chest as if to proclaim himself king of the jungle. The apex predator.


    ¡°What now, Queen? You really think you¡¯re fast enough to stop me?¡±


    Troy bobbed in place and for the first time her pores began to visibly drink in the light around her. Her skin glowed as if backlit by sunlight, and her veins pulsed with multi colored flares. The rainbow spread across all her visible skin and then she vanished once more.


    The Demon had assumed that basic forms of combat known to Cultivators would be able to defeat Troy, as it would honestly have done so with most speed based Cultivators.


    The problem with that assumption for Troy, was that most normal speed traps wouldn¡¯t work on her. When infused with light properly, Troy wasn¡¯t just fast. She was strong, and had a perception possibly higher than Arson even after he slowed things down to the maximum of his current abilities.


    Even all of that paled in comparison, to one thing. Her actual use of her own light affinity.


    The first kick she tried was again aimed directly toward the mid section as her starting attack normally was, but wasn¡¯t well enough timed, so she was blasted backward.


    ¡°You see, doesn¡¯t matter,¡± his words were cut off by another kick in the back from a HardLight clone that was timed in-between the pulse, slightly off as Troy had been. It mimicked her kick exactly, only a breath later.


    She moved again and again, each time closer to being unaffected by the pulses. Each strike made more of an impact, which caused the clones she summoned to hit harder as well.


    The Demon was barely able to defend himself, as Troy once again increased her speed and number of attacks.


    It was at this point that the Demon began to lash out in random directions in an attempt to catch Troy off guard. The only thing he managed to do was damage the cage that surrounded the arena floor.


    The situation was made worse by the barrier that surrounded the cage being drained unknowingly by Troy. The normally perfectly stable cage was being moved by the Demon¡¯s blasts of power and the magical backup used to anchor the cage in place now flickered as it weakened.


    The cage itself became uprooted in sections, lifted off the ground by the Demons attacks. He¡¯d even blasted the bodies of their other opponents to the edge of the cage, but paid for each unnecessary attack against the defenseless.


    Troy was only enraged by the actions, as she¡¯d once been one of the many opponents the Demon had done similar things to. Arson smiled as the first flurry kick landed. He was happy for his friend and her abilities, and that he was now not the only person to suffer through three to seven kicks in a matter of a breath by Troy.


    The move was painful, to experience at the least and so was the two HardLight clones mimicry that followed. Arson flinched at the sight and had to force down a chuckle when Lane smashed her face up against the glass of the viewing box.


    The Demon cursed aloud as he was bounced between two HardLight clones, while Troy took aim.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to do her new favorite, guys,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Bull¡­,¡± said a few in his group.


    ¡°Do what¡­?¡± Lane looked around and almost missed what happened but her camera caught everything, in slow motion as Arson did.


    The viewers of her channel watched as Troy appeared before the Demon the instant he was struck by the final two HardLight clone¡¯s kicks. He blinked in a daze only to receive a rising heel kick to the chin.


    He lifted decently high off the ground before Troy moved again. She appeared beneath his now horizontal body in an upside down crouch. She then rode his body like a surfboard through the air, and used the momentum left in his body to turn upright as he spun. .


    The crowd gasped as she kicked off the Demon like a spring board and shot toward the roof of the cage. When a HardLight clone appeared and mimicked her springboard action only inverted, the crowd was stunned to silence.


    The HardLight clone materialized in a crouch of its own above the Demon and rode his still in motion body and ended up beneath the young man as he fell like a boulder dropped from a mountain top.


    A breath before he struck the ground, the clone both kicked upward, and exploded with the collision into the arena floor.


    The Demon was sent like a rocket up and toward Troy. Arson feared for the young man¡¯s life by that point, as Troy seemed to be holding nothing back in that moment. She kicked off the roof of the cage so hard that the entire frame came free of the remaining weights in place to hold it down.


    HardLight clones filled the inside of the cage as Troy drank in even more fuel to perform her attack from practically every angle her mind could fathom all at once. Yet in that same instance, the mana shield¡¯s energy sputtered out.


    The Frame tipped toward the crowd and panic ensued within the front row on the opposing side of the audience from Arson as the cage itself smashed into seats and stunned frozen audience members alike.


    Before Troy could truly reveal her new skills. The Demon retaliated. He roared as he took control of his body in the air even as Troy dove full speed toward him. Arson knew she may not be able to overwhelm a telekinetic of a higher tier, but one ranked at her own tier, should have been easy to defeat in a versus. The corruption Troy had hinted at had been a joke to Arson until it was displayed before his very eyes.


    ¡°Force!¡± The Demon yelled the word and a physical presence could be felt as everything in the arena froze temporarily¡­the near dozen summoned projections of hardened light that dove toward the Demon from various angles¡­the cage that had begun to roll.


    Even Troy who glimmered like a near rainbow streak of deep and rich colors far beyond the speed easily captured by a non-Cultivator¡¯s eye was paused mid air like a streaking star. Her entire image stretched behind herself in a multi colored streak of light. Once again caught in an unseen grip; one she couldn¡¯t easily escape as she had prior.


    The Demon flew without the need of wings and closed the gap between him and Troy. He managed to grab her by the neck before she could regain the use of her own limbs.


    The back and forward between the Demon and Troy grew, as he through her into the inside of the still in motion cage and chased after her through the air. The two brawled in a bare knuckled slug fest and caused even more damage to the night club as the cage rolled and destroyed more seats.


    Panicked patrons fled in many directions, while others continued to eat and watch the fight from above or further in the audience.


    Lane watched dropped-jawed from their viewing box, unable to respond to the explosion of comments that rained in from her viewership.


    ¡°Come on Troy, you got this,¡± mumbled Arson as the fight went in either direction in a seemingly endless cycle of punches and devastating kicks.


    Arson was confused on how the Demon hadn¡¯t been disqualified for using an ability that marked him in a more advanced tier of combat, but his next actions ended any hope of him leaving unscathed.


    The blonde haired boy managed to suppress Troy¡¯s movements in a pivotal moment. The girl had been a breath away from a complete dodge, but instead, the Demon ripped his hand through her Torso.


    Silence ensued after the Demon dropped Troy¡¯s body outside the cage and bleeding on the arena floor.


    Arson looked to his mother in that moment, his shock apparent on his face. Jade shook her head at Arson as the stars in his eyes began to spin in a violent cyclone. A trait that would one day, invoke fear in all who witnessed the sight.


    Arson roared and the air shook. Some of the already damaged walls caused by the cage¡¯s movements crumbled further. While Arson¡¯s vision went red.


    ¡°Arson, no!¡±

 Chapter 18: Loosened Screws

    The Builder¡¯s viewing box exploded open, and a young man burst free of the box and crashed into the current underground champion. Arson was seen on live television for the first time in that moment, broadcast to potentially billions of viewers. His eyes a dark crimson red, that seemed to spin with galaxies within each pupil.


    For the Demon, he¡¯d done what any strong Cultivator would do against a true threat. To Arson, the Demon had just killed the one person that had accepted him without cost or requirement. Only unconditional friendship had been their bond.


    When they tore through the first wall of the night club, Arson had tears in his eyes. By the second wall his eyes blazed so brightly that his tears were sucked into the spiral like suns his eyes created.


    Punches and kicks were sent back and forward at speeds imperceivable to the natural eye. Most of Arson¡¯s blows missed or were countered by the underground arena champion, and every blow sent back toward the youth was practically a killing blow.


    Regardless, Arson pushed forward. Continued to chase his foe, even as his skin purpled from the weight of the punches that bashed against his skin, and kicks that literally cut him open. He ignored it all and let his regeneration keep him upright.


    The intensity of what he felt empowered him passed his limits and beyond. His rage manifested into a physical mana lightning that crackled on the surface of his skin from the center of his chest and rippled out down his limbs.


    In this state his regeneration was pushed to the point that instead of burning up instantly as Arson should have in that moment, he instead began to invoke the minor properties of a sun within his aura.


    ¡°Who do you think you are, brat?¡± tried the Demon. Arson didn¡¯t hear the words as he chased down the arena champion.


    At first, it seemed as if the Demon would easily overcome the small child that attempted to run him down, but the more they fought, the more matters changed.


    The Demon had a longer reach that he originally used to his advantage. A combination of punches and kicks broke Arson¡¯s bones on contact, and his rage grew deep, which only fueled his power.


    Then Arson¡¯s instincts flared after he was struck by the arena champion many more times. Between the damage his body rapidly worked to fix, his rage addled state, and the power he let flow free of his chest, Arson could feel absolutely nothing but elation as he began to strike back at his enemy.


    Knuckle punches from his small fists easily penetrated the Demon¡¯s own aura, and cause the older young man¡¯s limbs to go numb with each targeted pressure point. A spin kick to the head caused the Demon¡¯s eyes to go wide when he realized the youth in front of him almost managed to knock him off his feet.


    The arena champion realized he was in trouble a moment too late. As Arson began to move so quickly that the Demon¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t track his movements anymore. Another roundhouse kick was barely dodged as the Demon leaned back to avoid it. Which made the follow up uppercut to the gut hurt that much more.


    The Demon buckled forward and coughed as bile from his stomach jumped into his throat and he nearly puked, but Arson then grabbed him by the face. The Demon felt pure dread in that moment when Arson pulled him down to look him in the eyes and spoke softly.


    ¡°I will take everything from you¡­ I will laugh as you watch those you love burn, I will end you¡­¡± The Demon tried to speak, say anything to stop what he knew was to come from the little monster in front of him. He had nothing to do left in this life, but to wait for death¡¯s embrace to accept him.


    Arson dragged the Demon by his face. Conductive waters wrapped around the Demon¡¯s head. Arson¡¯s foe attempted to strike him, but it only made things worse.


    He¡¯d been changed by constant training over the past days. At night he was battered around by unnatural forces, and during the day his own mother seemed far more formidable than anything he could encounter after sundown.


    Arson was now meant to battle with a group of individuals not seen as normal Cultivators. The Demon did not meet that pedigree in the slightest. Which was now apparent as he was slugged repeatedly in the body, and slammed by his skull.


    Walls, seats, tables, anything Arson could use to cause his opponent pain was used. For the briefest moment the Demon slipped free of Arson¡¯s grasp, but he didn¡¯t make it far. By the time the Demon could take a breath, Arson had grabbed him by the ankle. With a roar the Demon was thrown through another wall and Arson continued to savage the Demon¡¯s every effort to escape.


    When the blonde haired boy dared to fight back, Arson blocked his punches, with his own fist, and crippled his enemy¡¯s digits with each attempt.


    Most kicks were countered outright with combos centered around his torso and head. The Demon only seemed to slow as his increased attempts to strike Arson failed.


    Arson seemed to be unnaturally tone. A density that came with a near unmovable weight now made it impossible for even the Demon to move him telekinetically.


    ¡°What the sparks kind of monster are you?!¡± Said the Demon, after a wave of force was walked through as easily as air. Arson truly hadn¡¯t noticed the Demon¡¯s attempts to attack him. He only felt rage.


    Arson shot conductive water orbs in the Demon¡¯s path each time the young man tried to turn and run. The Demon felt hope for the situation dwindle, especially after he realized Arson had began to time the explosions in a way that forced the arena champion back in his general direction.


    The Demon tried to use his telekinesis at its maximum output to swat away some of the conductive water orbs, and it worked at first¡­


    Then Arson began to shoot orbs the size of watermelons from both hands, and the Demon gave up hope after being bounced between explosions that guided him back toward Arson. Arson didn¡¯t even let the young man hit the ground before he tried to rip his own arm through the Demon¡¯s chest.


    The arena champion was saved by a random wave of energy that rippled out from the distance and stopped the punch cold. Arson merely roared as he slammed his fist through the wall of light and sent the arena champion up and through the ceiling into the second floor of the nightclub.


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    He hadn¡¯t even realized that someone else had stepped in to try and stop his assault, and had instead broken through the resistance almost as if there were none. Onlookers even cheered at the sight of Arson as the youth jumped through the hole in the ceiling as if he took a step up a single stair.


    He¡¯d never been so angry. He¡¯d never hurt so badly. He hadn¡¯t known Troy long, but he was closer to no one left alive. And until The Demon knew his pain, he would not let his wrath be tamed.


    He tried to focus, but the image of Troy wouldn¡¯t leave his mind. For the briefest moment he wanted to stop and break down, overcome with emotions, but his chest was filled with a storm that refused to be tamed or tamped down.


    Arson was unaware of his surroundings entirely. His group had never seen him this angry, and Jade had gotten to Troy before anyone else could, with a promise to the Builders to save her if possible. So they all continued with the plan for the night as if nothing was wrong. As if one of them hadn¡¯t just been killed by a predator.


    They all worked, and worried, but were partially shocked at their young leader¡¯s actions. They all hoped that they wouldn¡¯t lose Troy this way, and were even more fearful at what Arson would be like without Troy to keep him level headed.


    ¡°And finally we have a roasted phoenix drizzled with ambrosia honey and a side of purity grain rice as a bed,¡± said Rob to Almarine. He¡¯ed almost put down the plate on to Almarine¡¯s table but Arson broke through the wall, smashed the underground champion through the orphan mother¡¯s table, then managed to spartan kick the Demon out of the room.


    A massive hole was left where the wall had been, and the orphan mother was forced to watch the fight temporarily through the hole, rather than the screen Arson had just smashed the underground arena champion through.


    Almarine opened her mouth to try and say something to Arson, but had a feeling she¡¯d be wasting her time. She¡¯d seen him angry to this degree once prior, and the boy almost burned down an entire wing of the orphanage to stage his firework fueled revenge back then. She could only imagine what he would do now that he could feel the power of the sun rush through his veins.


    Almarine didn¡¯t mind the commotion though. She actually enjoyed the view similar to the most expensive viewing boxes above her. The richest members of local society got to enjoy and experience the action up close and without true barriers, and in that moment so did Almarine for the brief moment that the hole was there at least.


    ¡°Rob slid a nearby table over and two other orphans rushed into the room beside Xani and Jasmine. One orphan used earthen mana to reconstruct the stone walls of the nightclub, and the other used a small box to pick up all the debris of the table like a vacuum. Before Almarine could comment on the device that piqued her interest, the group spoke.


    ¡°He¡¯s going to bring down the nightclub at this rate, my people weren¡¯t prepared for this at all, we¡¯re lucky I even brought people,¡± said Xani in a panic.


    ¡°Yeah, the boss is pissed. Should we try and stop him?¡± asked Jasmine. The group looked at her bewildered, and Almarine chuckled.


    ¡°He¡¯s a bit out of your weight class girlie, he may even be a prodigy among prodigies at this point,¡± said the woman with a huge smile on her face.


    ¡°And I thought you loved all of us equally,¡± said Khalif as he ran into the room. He and two others at his flank jumped out the second hole Arson had created in the room, a moment before Xani¡¯s help closed the hole and the wall display once more showed Arson¡¯s rampage below.


    ¡°Served,¡± said Rob as he set down the plate on Almarine¡¯s table. Lane rushed into the doorway panting heavily. Her cameras were nowhere to be seen and she seemed to be exhausted in her attempt to keep up with the action.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m joining those training sessions with the running and stuff,¡± said Lane.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your cloud thing you rode on,¡± asked Jasmine.


    ¡°Confiscated,¡± said Lane with a wheeze. She pointed as if in question of which way she should go and they all nodded as they also followed the devastation that Arson¡¯s fury resulted in.


    Almarine looked back at her food and then the group of children as they left the room and smiled even deeper.


    ¡°It has begun again,¡± said Almarine as she blew out a cloud of blue mana clouds into the room and began to eat. Once more enthralled as she watched the now fixed wall that displayed the carnage around her.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Lane tried to collect herself before she spoke into the camera.


    ¡°This is what happens when the Builders, aka my new guild has any of its members disrespected,¡± said Lane. The wall behind her erupted and she was forced to duck as bricks rained down around her. The kitchen¡¯s walk-in freezer dislodged from the wall and slid into the hall near to her.


    ¡°Sovereign, the new scion I¡¯ve been talking about, hired me, and to be honest at first¡­¡± said Lane with a deep look into the camera.


    ¡°had my doubts¡­,¡± said Lane before the freezer was punctured by the body of the underground champion, and a roar escaped from its interior. All that Lane¡¯s cameras caught at first were two eyes that spun with spiraled suns at their centers. This moment alone would be watched more than anything in their city for the next season.


    Arson let loose two beams of light from his eyes so bright and powerful that they cleaved an immense hole through the nightclub and into the pitch black city sky above. The animalistic roar that accompanied the sun beams, only further added to the intensity of the situation.


    Arson had missed the Demon, but also filled the young man with fear. The underground champion now not only knew he could be killed in fare combat, but it could be accomplished easily and at any moment by his opponent. With this epiphany, he begun to panic further.


    ¡°She was just some street trash, kid!¡± said the Demon as he tried to throw things into Arson¡¯s path to slow him down. Yet, Arson merely smashed through walls as they were telekinetically uprooted and hurled at him, vaulted tables, and even punched a steel support beam in half after it was flung in his direction.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this, I can pay you everything, anything, whatever you want, kid. I promise. Just stop!¡± Arson had no intention of doing what he was asked to. The Demon would regret what he did to Troy and Arson wouldn¡¯t stop until he did.


    Arson finally caught the Demon when he begun to flee, the young man even turned his back to Arson as he ran in terror. Only to be grabbed by the back of the neck. The Demon felt what it was like to be slammed into the ground, only Arson broke through the ceiling and slammed him further into the arena below.


    The panicked audience members, had at one point attempted to leave during the original chaos, but as the Builders followed their boss and catered to the needs of the guests, they¡¯d returned to their seats.


    Arson turned the bloody young man toward himself and roared in his face. He once again grabbed the Demon by the front of his head and summoned conductive waters. At first the Demon managed to keep water from his lungs with the use of his abilities. Without them, he¡¯d had lost to Arson¡¯s assault long ago, and to Troy¡¯s onslaught even sooner.


    The barrier that covered his body broke under the chaotic orb around his head and the Demon began to thrash. He desperately tried to break free of Arson¡¯s small hand but couldn¡¯t. All fight leaving the Demon as Arson punched him for every attempt to escape.


    ¡°Arson, stop this, you have done enough,¡± said Jade. Arson didn¡¯t even look at his mother, but his response shook the air around them all.


    ¡°He will die here¡­¡±


    ¡°No one needs to die here, Arson,¡± said Troy in a weak voice behind him. Arson turned back to look at the voice in disbelief.


    The sight of Troy upright took his breath away.


    She was still covered in blood and seemed to wobble on her feet, but there was nothing but perfect skin underneath the ripped cloth of her shirt.


    ¡°Let him go, Arson,¡± said Troy softly. Arson looked at the Demon as his eyes pleaded back at him. Arson felt no remorse, and his eyes brightened as the stars within spun faster.


    ¡°Please, this is my foe to overcome, buddy. Don¡¯t take that from me,¡± said Troy. He looked at her smile in that moment and tossed the Demon aside. The bubble of water around his head popped as Arson¡¯s eyes returned to normal.


    Lane ran up to the group as the rest of the Builders settled around Arson. The girl looked between them all with a smile and nodded to herself. After what she¡¯d just witnessed the girl knew the group would be a lot to handle, but she¡¯d decided to join the Builders.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry guys, I lost it there for a second,¡± said Arson. His mother laughed, and Arson frowned when the woman wiped away tears of laughter from her face.


    ¡°What? Don¡¯t look at me like that. It¡¯s just the Fury Blood in your veins, you will eventually get used to it, and no, before you even ask, we should talk about this later. You have more pressing matters to deal with,¡± said Jade with a look around.


    ¡°Do you think Mr Kim is going to be mad,¡± asked Arson with a look at his mother. She was the only one there who¡¯d met the keeper who owned the ManaWell, and Arson worried over the backlash he and his group may receive from the owner of the destroyed building.


    ¡°Probably, he¡¯s a bit of a spark plug, not one I tend to communicate easily with, I think he¡¯s still mad I bought my rights to the dump back from his family,¡± admitted Jade with a sigh. Arson took a deep breath as he was filled with questions, he knew he wouldn¡¯t easily be able to get answered.


    He looked around at the damage and his guild doing their best to keep the building stable. They¡¯d managed to keep the exterior strong, but the inside, was destroyed almost completely.


    The guest left inside still ate and socialized as if what had happened was an everyday occurrence. Even though they¡¯d destroyed the nightclub, The Builders of Godhood had actually reaped quite a large yield from the event.


    Maybe enough to buy the place¡­?


    If it wasn¡¯t for the Builders, the room would resemble an empty warehouse used for raves. Arson looked at his guild, then the Demon as the young man tried to crawl away and shook his head before he took in the gazes of his family.


    ¡°How much you think this is going to cost me?¡±

 Chapter 19: Armory

    Arson took time to contemplate his decisions. Troy was sad, and he found himself bothered more and more by how much grief she felt over the loss to The demon.


    He¡¯d tried to talk to her about it, but she told him she didn¡¯t want to take her anger out on him, but he felt he was honestly being treated like a child. If he did something wrong, he wanted to know what exactly he did, and why it was the wrong thing to do.


    He¡¯d never before attempted to end someone¡¯s life, nor did he ever want to be that angry again. He didn¡¯t like the uncontrolled rage that overtook him, and would do anything to never be taken there again.


    So Arson did as his training and new disciplines demanded, he trained even more.


    So much in fact that he now felt he should unlock something within his Overlay. He hadn¡¯t made a direct choice yet, but settled for sure on a second point being put into Armor.


    He still hadn¡¯t mastered conductive water orbs full capabilities from what he saw in the vision from the SunStorm Sovereign when he¡¯d unlocked the skill, and didn¡¯t want another offensive ability that would need a lot of time before it was useful.


    He still didn¡¯t know exactly what an additional point into System would bring, and hadn¡¯t talked it over with Jade yet either. So that left him with an Armor choice that he thought would be an easy choice.


    Arson looked at his whopping 153k stat points. and paid for the unlock of Armor for ten thousand points. Which he thought was garbage because breaking a node had been that expensive, but he remembered that when the node opened entirely that his mana regeneration increased further, so he dismissed his complaints.


    Now that he¡¯d actually put the second point into Armor, he¡¯d had a nearly overwhelming decision to make. One that both confused and exhilarated him. He had 11 choices, all of which gave him something different, none of which seemed to correspond with one another.


    Cowl & Mask of the Sunlight wraith: As a hooded cowl, your face cannot be seen, nor your presence be sensed, future upgrades may offer invisibility dependent upon paths chosen. When pulled down, the mask of the Sunlight Wraith is fully activated, all energies consumed are infused into Mana heart & or Soul cores.


    Chest-plate of Elementals: For every elemental core consumed, another is born within you. Can you house the storm of all elements? Only one of the Omni prior came close, unable to build a body worthy of the storm of creation, basic storm elemental within. Properties: unknown.


    Shoulder-guard of Sovereignty: Worn by the first Angel born from the Omnipotent Sun, grants a wisdom-based blessing of instincts and reaction. May divinity guide your path toward the true power of the Sun¡¯s light.


    Shoulder-guard of Dominion: Worn by the first primordial demon born of the void within the Omnipotent Sun¡¯s shadow. This armament grants the power of the original sin, Rage of the black sun. Beware what lives at peace within the dark.


    Belt of the Sun-core: This belt with time can hold anything, even life forms. It devours the ambient mana of the wearer and grows as they do: *Accessory compatible with belt interface found: Watch of the Cosmos, available for link.*


    Gauntlet of Time & Spirits: This gauntlet drains the life from the living, in exchange, allows for basic time control. The larger the soul or sun eaten, the more control gained. Souls and sun energy can be stored within to also provide the user with grand tier time & space control. *Divine souls are required for these types of magics & sciences.*


    Gauntlet of Karmic Sunlight: This item can display the mood of the wearer and effect the environment based on the sensations being felt by its user. These effects can change how the wearer is viewed, responded to, and even affect luck within a battle. *Beware, this item can affect the wearer as negatively as it can positively, as the mental state of its user is all that controls the piece. *Be at peace young Sun-Storm.*


    Leggings of the Unnatural immortal: These pants were once worn by the oldest living mortal in existence. Made from the silk like strands of the Sun-Storm tree¡¯s roots, nearly nothing can penetrate the seamless weave. As their former owner was unrivaled in martial combat, his legacy remains within, as he wore nothing more than these pants, until his final moment and self-immolation.


    Foot-guard of Immovability: The more ambient mana this item drinks in, the more weight your every movement will contain. In addition, the more impossible it will be for you to be moved by external forces. *This item can outgrow the strength of the wearer and make them incapable of movement themselves.*


    Foot-guard of Unstoppability: The longer this item draws on your mana or soul energy during combat, the more quickly you will be able to move. *Some have run themselves into disintegration from the exhilaration felt by the inability to be stopped.* Run toward the light and you may live to see another breath.


    Left wing of the Sun Dragon: Pulled from the back of the Sung god of Destruction, this wing grants basic flight, and can be joined with other wing types to unlock grand tier destruction magics.


    Right wing of the Void-Sun Phoenix: This wing grants basic flight and can be combined with other wing types to grant grand tier Creation & healing science abilities.


    ¡°Holy sparks¡­¡± Arson felt overwhelmed. Jade had told him that creation type Cultivators normally would have an armor system built around a type or types of affinities their ancestry had claimed. He read his options seven times or more and couldn''t tell what his ancestry wasn''t attached to in the world of Cultivation.


    One of his ancestors had been the first immortal. The words of the option left Arson with questions, a slight revulsion and a potential roadblock.


    He didn¡¯t know if he could wear the pants of someone who¡¯d died in them, even if he also suspected that may have been the moment they became immortal.


    He also had many connections to magic, karma, and even divinity itself. In the end though, Arson decided to go from head to toe with his armor choices, and started with the head piece.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    It seemed to be the simplest item and very beneficial in the short term. When he made the selection he had his new viral video in mind. He loved those on his side, but those that weren¡¯t, had an opinion on his youth that he couldn¡¯t fight.


    So the hood and mask combination seemed perfect. Sovereign would serve as his political side, and be hooded, and without a face. While Arson would serve as his Warfare persona, and be masked.


    He¡¯d always wished to be able to play more into his Gemini birth, born in the center of all seasons as he was, and now he could.


    He rose from his position and accepted the vision that would teach him his new ability. The vision consumed his sight completely and he was able to witness a new perspective once more.


    He was now in the body of a young man who howled with the roar of a dragon mixed with the shriek of a ghoul or demonic creature. Arson caught a look at the boy¡¯s appearance as he ran by a fountain filled with water and Arson felt his heart skip a beat.


    A literal tempest was wrapped around the young man¡¯s face in the shape of an armored headpiece. Its shape was a chaotic mix of a dragon skull and armor, but formed of elements.


    Water, lightning and wind masked the boy¡¯s appearance, and before Arson was able to feel more of what it was like to use the ability, the scene changed and the boy fought in the air, and inhaled a blizzard. The energy visibly enriched the lines of power that ran through his body.


    Then the vision changed once more and Arson found himself sitting across from an old man, not in a vision of another, but within his own body.


    ¡°How did I get here?¡± Arson tried to look around but couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the old man with the hood on in front of him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother to try and look around, a mortal¡¯s brain is incapable to perceive and process what is occurring behind me, so you may not be able to move while here, as for your question, you must have triggered some sort of requirement to attain my guidance in regard to something,¡± stated the man simply. Arson could only see the white beard beneath the hood as the man talked, and only attempted to look away a few more times before he gave up.


    ¡°I gained an ability, some sort of cowl made of light, it¡¯s supposed to affect things around me maybe, I am also unsure why I am here as well to be honest with you, sir.¡±


    ¡°Honesty doesn¡¯t matter here, boy, but yours is appreciated, many have sat where you are and asked to learn many things from me, but none have ever asked for something as simple as the illuminated cowl,¡± said the man with a grumble.


    ¡°Should I ask to learn something more valuable, I don¡¯t know what would help me more than the ability described,¡± said Arson. He purposefully left out the name of the ability he¡¯d chosen, as the man seemed to want to teach him something different potentially, which intrigued Arson.


    ¡°You seem to value basic knowledge above grand tier atrocities and the like. With the understandings of the basics of magic, I have twisted many portions of the Uni-Vare into my own direct control, sometimes even unintentionally, your respect of basic knowledges will get you far more time and information from me, boy.¡± Arson nodded and waited silently for the lesson to begin.


    ¡°Hmmm, this shall do¡­,¡± Arson felt the man move as he couldn¡¯t break line of sight with the man, and his periphery was hazy within the space he found himself.


    Then a line of light connected their foreheads and the man began to speak.


    ¡°This is a formal understanding connection, through this line our subconscious will be connected and as I instruct you, what I am trying to convey will truly be conveyed, even if you don¡¯t have an understanding of what words I use to speak or use.¡± Arson nodded and smiled, as he believed he understood everything thus far.


    ¡°Light is a manifestation of the lightest and most powerful form of energy in creation. To be able to control and manifest light requires internal atom splicing or parthenogenesis of mana enriched blood, either will work, you coincidently have both options which should make this easier for you. What you are attempting to learn is the cowl of illumination or maybe even a combination of many minor forms of omnipotent relic based armor,¡± said the man,¡± his eyes became visible to Arson and he felt his own mind shrink at the sight alone. His own power recognized the difference in depth between their minds and Arson became thrilled at what he now knew could be possible. Was this man even more powerful than a Keeper?


    ¡°This cloak draws in light, and also the thoughts and sensations of others if they look you in the eyes for long enough, your eyes will only be visible underneath the cowl when the ability is in use, and may also interact with technology through hacking basic operating systems. The more you understand of science and tech, the more systems you will be able to interact with. Finally, if you have a trinity core which you are close to completing, you may innately be attracted to treasure or items of power and knowledge.¡± Light began to pool atop Arson¡¯s head as he sat and stared down the man that seemed to hold all of two separate existences in each one of his eyes. Realms held within the clutches of a single being, only there to power the actions of the same entity that controlled them.


    The liquid light formed a cowled hood made of pure white light, with a tribal sun that moved chaotically in a crimson red at the back of his head. When it was completed, Arson¡¯s face disappeared behind a brilliant twist of sunset colors that made his facial features invisible.


    ¡°It seems you are good at listening as well,¡± said the old man, but Arson didn¡¯t remember when the man actually gave an explanation on how to form the cowl. When Arson thought on how to do it though, he felt he could easily achieve the feat.


    ¡°Your subconscious is far more powerful than your waking mind, it will listen to the directions I give it immediately, rather than think before attempting something, skipping mental barriers that you yourself would have put before yourself.¡± Before Arson could thank the man, he found himself once more atop a trash heap. He looked down to see everyone stare up at him.


    He pulled his cowl from thin air as if he wore a jacket and its hood was down. The others looked on in amazement. While most gasped in awe, Khalif laughed and spoke up first.


    ¡°You look like one of those Lava lamp things Xani found in the dump,¡± said Khalif with a laugh. Then Arson spoke and everyone went silent.


    ¡°Do I? Good,¡± said Arson with a voice both deep and smooth as tightly strung cello cords. Then Arson pulled the cowl down passed his chin.


    He ignored the prompt from his overlay as his new mask snapped into place. Arson felt the same energy build around his eyes as he had when he fought the Demon, and a swirl of energy erupted around his skull.


    The chaotic energy twisted around his head like a sun. Like in the vision a helmet formed, shaped like a dragon¡¯s skull, the only difference being the bird like features of Arson¡¯s own mask.


    The energy that twisted around his skull to make the mask also wasn¡¯t a simple storm, but made of sunlight and twisted gravity, infused with other energies such as Mana and Uni-Vare.


    His visage was terrifyingly powerful and threatened any who looked at him. Then he roared.


    The sound was like a Sun dragon, the most powerful of all dragons. It was not the full grown roar of the beast that could end a realm with its yell alone, but that of its child, new to the world of power and dominion.


    Half the training group scattered and hid, while the other half froze in place. Arson began to laugh, which somehow also managed to be impressive, before he pulled down his cowl entirely once again to show his face.


    ¡°This is going to be fun,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Please tell me you don¡¯t plan to wear that to the meeting with Sven and his boss,¡± Arson turned to see Troy step atop the trash heap and smile at him.


    ¡°Yeah actually I do. Maybe not the mask, but the hood for sure,¡± said Arson as he once again lifted the cowl and slid it beneath the crown that floated above his head.


    ¡°The light from your hood makes your crown look that much cooler, kiddo,¡± said Troy. She tapped his crown and it made a soft hum that made her smile when she heard it.


    ¡°I wish you wore it out more,¡± said Lane. Arson once more hid his crown, as the cameras came into view. He was sad to have to take on what he felt to be his serious persona, as that had been the first time he¡¯d seen his friend smile since her match, and she¡¯d barely stopped training since.


    ¡°My crown is for my people and those who choose to follow me, not the realm abroad Lane. We¡¯ve spoken about this already,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Well, Sovereign, my people enjoy the crown and you get more views when it¡¯s out,¡± said Lane. Arson was again glad that his facial expression couldn¡¯t be seen. Both now as he rolled his eyes at Lane, and earlier when Troy had made his cheeks warm when she¡¯d touched his crown.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t change what I just said Lane, I appreciate your fans attention, but not at the cost of my own morals.¡± Lane nodded and smiled back at him.


    ¡°So boss, what are your plans now, after the rumble in the ManaWell, anything new and exciting?¡±


    ¡°No, not really. Other than what the Builders have planned for this week,¡± said Arson with a smile toward Troy, who smiled back even though she couldn¡¯t see his face.


    ¡°Oh, and what is that?¡± asked Troy to build excitement for Lane¡¯s viewership, as she already knew what was next.


    ¡°Builderfest.¡±

 Chapter 20: Builders

    Arson stood alongside Xani and Khalif in front of a wall full of separate camera screens. Displayed were dozens of tandem hover bikes, and their projected surroundings. On them, were mostly teams of two and three, but sometimes teams of four could be seen.


    The higher the value of the goods being sold, the higher number of team members. Salesperson, and guard minimum. With the higher numbered teams expanded to include a spacial containment expert from Xani¡¯s group and an additional salesperson from the newly designated BlackHole.


    Arson liked the name for what he thought to be the parent company of all his sales groups, as well for the eventual storefront.


    Arson watched as the spacial experts, unloaded entire stores worth of product based on requested categories by customers. Salespeople that seconded as chefs, cooked meals from kitchens dropped by those same spacial experts, and some bodyguards even recruited for BlackHole from some interested parties.


    The bodyguards only recruited when the other members of their team were semi-trained. This was because the entrance challenge to join was to beat the guard in a one-on-one fight, and things sometimes didn¡¯t go as planned.


    Not all truly wanted to join, and knew the cargo that the new hover bikes seen around town held.


    This caused Xani and Arson to develop a system that could instantly pick up and store all nearby inventory and display cases into small spacial storage boxes they¡¯d made and continued to advance further as more needs became required for the groups to operate.


    ¡°Do you think we will have a good turnout?¡± asked Arson to his peers.


    ¡°Are you kidding me,? All I can hear on the streets is about the Builderfest. I thought that it would only be cool to the orphans but apparently even the common folk and the lower spectrum cultivator communities are interested,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°Yeah, I have many vendors very excited to show off their products,¡± said Xani. Arson nodded, and hoped all of the entertainment he¡¯d planned for the event would actually show up. He¡¯d been laughed at by many of those whom he¡¯d proposition as himself, but got better results when he introduced himself as the newest scion in the city of Maelstrom.


    ¡°We will see in a few days, but the advertising seems to be going well,¡± said Arson. The others nodded along, and Arson finally turned to Xani when he was satisfied with the movements of the orphans on screen.


    ¡°So I have managed to levitate for almost a handful of breaths and I wondered if we could maybe skip forward and work on propulsion, I know I need to be able to stop at anytime, but I figure if I can aim away from the ground, bare minimum, I won¡¯t end up scrambled eggs on the pavement.¡± Xani rolled her eyes at Arson and shrugged.


    ¡°Skip around if you want, bossman, it¡¯s your life on the line. That¡¯s the best part about learning to fly,¡± said Xani with an exhilaration in her voice Arson didn¡¯t know that he would ever truly experience. He had learned how to levitate from Xani through a mana manipulation technique that was known as the basis to flight in the cultivation world. Regardless, his fear of heights still remained.


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep focused, it is not that I run out of mana, it is like my mind goes on auto pilot and the technique cuts off,¡± said Arson. Xani once again rolled her eyes at him.


    ¡°Start from the beginning every time that happens, and eventually, it won¡¯t anymore,¡± said Xani.


    It was Arson¡¯s turn to roll his eyes. He did as she said. Nonstop. In every moment he could. Before long, he was forced to increase his physical training as a result of being constantly afloat.


    Days passed and it became a regular sight to see Arson a half foot to a foot off the ground. He refused to skip steps, Xani wouldn¡¯t let him, but that only reaffirmed his gut feeling.


    Shortcuts would kill him in the long run. So he trained. He fought off the ground. He even took more risk during combat by nearly being able to fly.


    This alongside his poisonings, took up the majority of his available time. He gave his spare moments to the need of his guild, but primarily trained with his mother.


    He barely got to see Troy which bothered him, but she planned on a return to the dump at night.


    She¡¯d fought almost every single night since she¡¯d fought the Demon, and slept after every fight, rather than be able to stay up with Arson.


    Arson trained during the day, and also at night. He wished he didn¡¯t love it as much as he did, so that maybe he had time for other things, but he figured if it truly mattered to him, that he would eventually find the time.


    ¡°I think you are finally ready for propulsion, buddy,¡± said Xani. Arson held his hands over his eyes and refused to remove them.


    ¡°If I look down I think I may pass out, if I didn¡¯t know I could survive a fall from here I¡¯d probably already be asleep,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°We walk off the roof and you immediately closed your eyes, kid. How are you going to fly around with your eyes closed the whole time?¡±


    ¡°I changed my mind. I don¡¯t need to fly. I¡¯m going to run really fast instead like Troy!¡±


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°Yeah right, and your mom should give up on those massive portals she can make because they look terrifying to enter, and ride a unicycle everywhere,¡± responded Xani sarcastically. Arson still hadn¡¯t entered one of his mother¡¯s portals, nor did he plan on it any time soon. Even if the dungeons inside some of them could help him get faster more quickly.


    ¡°Wait, are you insulting users of motion? I¡¯d like you to say that to Troy¡¯s face,¡± said Arson with a laugh and was rewarded with a very stern glare from the older Xani.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you look at me like that. I¡¯m not sure even you could get away from her now. No other clouds have gotten away in the ring and you know how they are,¡± said Arson. Xani nodded, as she herself was a cloud, or sky traveler. Whereas Troy was a user of motion or increased speeds.


    Arson had dreams of being both, a cloud, and a user of motion, but would settle on the sky over anything else. He no longer wanted to fear any fall, small or large.


    ¡°Forget about that, bossman, I need you to open your eyes and concentrate.¡± Arson did as the young woman directed and centered himself as he¡¯d learned to while he levitated.


    They were dozens of floors off the ground and traffic rushed below them, both hover car and street terrain vehicles alike. Xani had chosen such a height both for their safety and the seclusion offered.


    Arson had to force himself not to look at the vast city below him. His mind had always been enraptured by beautiful sights, and the marvel beneath his feet was not an exception to be missed.


    The beautiful city of maelstrom could be seen in every direction. Luscious green grass topped roofs. Trees lined buildings made of sandstone and glass. Waterfalls splashed softly down the side of skyscrapers, and flowed into fountains.


    Arson¡¯s breath was taken away every time he took in the patterns made by the rivers that lined the streets of Maelstrom. The entire city seemed to glimmer like a diamond in the sunrise.


    ¡°I said FOCUS!¡± Arson took his eyes from his surroundings and smiled at Xani. For the first time in his life, he felt less fear at being high up, and he knew this was what Xani meant for him to experience.


    ¡°Sorry, this place is just beautiful,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Yeah, and that¡¯s exactly why the dump is so bad and we have that much more work to do,¡± said Xani while she orbited Arson.


    ¡°Will you stop, you¡¯re making me dizzy, woman!¡± Xani only giggled.


    ¡°As you have learned thus far, everything is a system of give and take, the energy used, both comes from one point and must be distributed elsewhere, this is also the premise behind ambient mana,¡± said Xani. Arson rotated slowly in an attempt to keep up with Xani¡¯s circular flight path.


    ¡°If you can manage to power your flight with external or ambient manas, you will never need to calculate whether you have available resources during your flight.¡±


    Arson had already gotten a decent handle on the ambient mana levitation, which was common to learn for clouds or those born with wings, but the next level of the skill was almost impossible for most to learn.


    ¡°For this next step, you will have to learn circular breathing, as well as how to make the ambient mana around you perform the same task,¡± said Xani. Arson¡¯s face scrunched and Xani giggled.


    ¡°I have to make the mana breathe in a circular pattern?¡± Xani closed her eyes slowly and sighed before she shook her head.


    ¡°No, my young crime lord, you must breathe in a circular pattern, and make the mana around you move in the same style of system,¡± said Xani as Arson gestured for her to continue.


    ¡°You breathe in oxygen, and your lungs process the air into the blood stream and it nourishes the body and then you expel carbon dioxide, simply put, fill yourself with power from around you, use it and expel what remains,¡± said Xani. Arson was nearly on the verge of an epiphany, and his mind raced at the possibilities of what Xani hinted at.


    ¡°So¡­ how do I translate that into mana usage,¡± asked Arson. Xani shrugged and smiled back at him.


    ¡°I have no idea, I did it by a fluke, and truly don¡¯t know how I understand the process, but my body does and that is all that matters,¡± said Xani. Arson nodded at her as he thought to himself.


    ¡°In the example given, if I were to try and think of my core as my lungs, and mana as oxygen, what is the difference between my natural mana regeneration and the process you have in mind for me?¡± It was Xani¡¯s turn to think before she responded. The girl tapped her chin as she floated smoothly through the air around Arson, posed as if she was lying on a couch comfortably.


    ¡°Let me put it like this, one is active and the other is passive, your regular process is like breathing without thought, and this process should be considered the equivalent to deep concentrated breaths, like during meditation, when the process is automated, it sustains, but when it is focused you can achieve more, move longer, push harder,¡± said Xani. She had no idea what she was truly able to give to arson in that moment, but with his new understanding, Arson would be forever changed.


    ¡°So how do I begin to circular breathe?¡±


    ¡°Easy, well not easy, but easily practiced. Open your mouth slightly, and use the muscles of your abdomen to compress and decompress your lungs, the effort comes from the continual intake of air through your mouth or nostrils, what you will be able to achieve eventually is endless breaths, the continual filling of your lungs with fresh air, even without the need to exhale or inhale,¡± said Xani. Arson had once more closed his eyes and listened intently as he attempted the process.


    When Arson woke up in a nose dive toward a lane of air traffic, he¡¯d realized he must have done something wrong and passed out. He screamed and before he could ram face first into a sky taxi, Xani caught him by the ankle, and pulled him back into the air above the skyline.


    ¡°Looks like you need more training, kid!¡±


    Arson nodded and tried not to flail as Xani set him down in a rooftop garden. The two sat and conversed on random matters.


    Arson spoke on the epiphany he¡¯d had before they¡¯d stopped flight practice, and Xani discussed her struggles with completing the perfect drone for the dumps needs.


    ¡°So what¡¯s wrong with the ones you are already making, they seem fine enough, excluding the weaknesses you just brought up?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing dude, those weaknesses are the only things left that cause us to lose money. They need to be combat ready, fast, and able to carry a large load,¡± stated Xani. Arson nodded as he thought and spoke without thinking.


    ¡°Man, that sucks, makes me think of the story that Jade told us over dinner the other night, about how cultivators used to fly on swords because they were incredibly aerodynamic when filled with mana and could always be used as a backup weapon, makes me wish I could teach your drones swordplay,¡± said Arson with a few fake stabs toward a nonexistent enemy beside them. Xani didn¡¯t say a word, and Arson began to wonder he¡¯d said something dumb and looked at his chosen rival.


    ¡°OMG! You are truly a genius!¡± The girl squealed in excitement as she shot to her feet and let her ideas flow free.


    ¡°All I have to do is build the storage devices for our deliveries into the handles of swords, if I use the swords in the dump. I already have the shells for the drone bodies, and with a little programming magic and testing, I may be able to have the swords defend themselves,¡± said Xani with a few faux fencer¡¯s strikes of her own toward Arson.


    ¡°Wait, what now?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You will see, little lord!¡± Xani hugged Arson and took flight without a single extra word. All alone on the rooftop, thousands of feet above ground.


    ¡°No problem, I should be able to get back just fine on my own,¡± yelled Arson to the empty air. He rolled his eyes after a moment and rose to his feet.


    Thousands of feet above the city below, Arson strolled confidently up to the edge of the rooftop, closed his eyes, took a deep breath and prepared before he set his sight on his destination in the distance and jumped.


    He focused on his breaths as wind whipped pass his face and body. Mana thrummed throughout his being as light filtered in through his pores. He felt the moment of weightlessness take over, and he was propelled forward with a jerk but the power sputtered and flickered out in the next moment. He screamed a curse and tried to focus on everything but the quickly approaching ground below.


    ¡°I am not my own worse enemy, I am Endless¡­¡± Arson repeated the words over and over, until a mere few hundred yards separated him from death.


    No one is coming to save you Arson, come on!


    Arson felt the gravity around him distort after his realization. The power he¡¯d felt earlier thrummed to life once more and shot forward like a hawk in a dive.


    Buildings stretched around him in his vision as his power exploded violently behind him to propel him faster. He was barely in control, but he didn¡¯t care, as he was flying.


    ¡°Woohoo!¡±

 Chapter 21: Panoramic

    Armor didn¡¯t like the lie being told. She the queen of her own kingdom, had only 6 children. It was her husband who had seven.


    This boy, newly named, Sovereign, was not born of her womb.


    The child had been taken from his birth mother, Elizabeth Carter. The proclaimed heir of all things illegal. The keeper of Ikarus, not her.


    ¡°I refuse to envy you, Jade, no matter how talented your child seems,¡± said Armor. In the center of a small island, the queen of Maelstrom stood alone. She was entirely surrounded by clouds.


    The clouds around her displayed many different scenes. All of which held her children, and the proclaimed crowned scion. She decided not to go to the festival with her family. She hadn¡¯t even been interested until her husband decided to go as well.


    She couldn¡¯t monitor him as she could others, but Arsenal had been seen with her children occasionally within the images shown.


    The clouds continued to twist as more and more of the festival filled in around her. As her children explored, more of the location would be available for her to access mentally for a period. It wasn¡¯t until she began to look around that she realized that her husband was right about two things.


    One, she should have truly trained the ability more. Half the time she found herself interested in something around her, the sight would disappear before she could truly analyze the items or luxuries.


    While the second was that she should have gone. The place was filled with value and things were incredibly cheap as far as she could tell.


    Her youngest Alexander, had already spent over a million credits on food alone. The bottomless pit that was his stomach should hold more praise than the amount spent with how affordable the different cuisines made were.


    Armor was astonished at the varieties of different styles of foods, as most seemed to be from different cities, countries, and seemingly even different realms.


    This was proven by the Celestials of western winds, whose food practices were known to be the most strict in nearly all the known realms love for one of the food booths. Many other cultures with heavy foreign based food preferences also seemed to be honed into a single food stall or station. Which made Armor wonder if Arson had designed things with all tastes in mind.


    This was something that would normally be impossible, but when Armor thought of Elizabeth Aurora Carter, she recognized the potential of the impossibility of the thought being more probable than improbable.


    Then her eyes followed Axis, her fourth born. The girl only had a mind for beauty and fashion. So when she heard that her youngest brother had successfully started his own clothing brand before her, she was immediately interested in how.


    Armor had told the girl it was as simple as access and resources, with a pinch of reputation. Arson was an unknown factor, which created buzz, and from what Armor could see about him thus far, he branded himself well.


    She¡¯d thought that her normal grains of knowledge would satiate the girl, but it hadn¡¯t, and now Axis was being followed by a train of followers and baggage.


    She¡¯d lost herself in the clothes from worlds seemingly lost to most. Revived by her youngest brother, the clothes were treasures his older sister would cherish forever. Unlike most fashionistas, Axis actually wore all of her clothes.


    The girl changed constantly and had even changed 3 times since she¡¯d arrived at the festival grounds outside the Junkyard of Maelstrom. Seeing how Jade secretly owned the realm itself it didn¡¯t matter what her son was allowed to do with the land, it was theirs to do with as they wanted.


    For their accomplishments the dragon and the phoenix of the previous generation, were given control over the realm and ownership over the realm prospectively.


    Her husband designated the rule of all societies within, while Jade owned every spec of dirt a Cultivator¡¯s foot could tread, down to the atom or molecule even.


    The new festival grounds only seemed like a small beginning for the final born son of her Husband. Which only unnerved her further.


    She had betrayed her husband, and he¡¯d betrayed her in return. A mistake she now paid for, and she wondered if Arsenal took pride in.


    The image of her son Auto hadn¡¯t changed. As he hadn¡¯t moved. The boy had been frozen by the Drone station just outside the festival grounds for what seemed like the entire morning.


    He was captivated completely. The drones constantly moved around containers full of what Armor assumed was trash. Armor hadn¡¯t known why an organization called BlackHole would buy all of the airspace rights for above the Junkyard and Dump, until she saw what occurred in front of Auto¡¯s eyes.


    Now when the city¡¯s garbage was brought to be dumped, instead of a careless crop-dust of trash over the grounds, air traffic was regulated.


    Different air transport vehicles flew in organized lanes and were now forced to dump their product in large containers based on the various sizes of the trash hauls. Armor could only guess at the point of the new style of trash keeping, but no one else wanted to do the job, and nor did she.


    Her son could probably tell her more, but Auto hadn¡¯t answered his flatscreen since he looked at the first drone owned by BlackHole. Armor gave up hope on any information being gained until she was able to speak to him later.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Then her eyes flickered toward Aura, and her mouth opened slightly in surprise. Her prize fighting champion of a daughter didn¡¯t lose. Ever. But¡­ apparently that was no longer true.


    She¡¯d now failed to pass a no mana challenge against a pair of fraternal and nearly identical twins three times now. She was even in a rush to jump back in the line for the challenge again, even as it grew longer.


    ¡°By the sparks of the maiden, child, it¡¯s rigged, don¡¯t get back in line,¡± said Armor as she texted her daughter the same thing on her flatscreen. The message was ignored after a glance and Aura once again chatted with the locals in line.


    The objective of the challenge was to beat the twins in a 2v1 encounter without the use of mana, which would be nearly impossible as both of the twins practiced circular breathing.


    In fact all of the attendants, guards, and even the cooks and cleaning staff practiced circular breathing.


    The regeneration of all of the well-practiced was far higher than normal, while even the worst of the BlackHole staff still seemed to work at a higher than normal speed and efficiency.


    The twins in the challenge took the breathing exercise to an entirely new level. The cycle of their breaths not in sync, but in flow of one another. One exhaled, as the other inhaled.


    To make things worse, they not only absorbed ambient mana naturally, which skirted the rules of mana use; they also absorbed the mana being expelled and used by the cultivators they fought.


    It was very rare that either twin needed assistance to take down an entry, Aura being one of them, but the holograms of the previous victors, gave all who walked by false hope.


    Armor could tell that the children in the video weren¡¯t younger, but they had been far less trained when the previous victors had accomplished the feat.


    As Armor watched she realized that even the challenge was more of a benefit to the twins than anyone else. They got endless challenges and for each loss half of the credits given by each defeated entry went into a jackpot that could be won by the next victor. Yes someone incredibly powerful could eventually come and win by a difference in cultivation levels, but that would be seen as beneath any that Armor saw doing it easily.


    The twins fought many different styles of martial forms and variant skill sets, and the grace shown in each victory they gained was honorable. They learned from every fight, and the line was now nearly as long as the one to get into the festival grounds itself.


    When Armor¡¯s eyes found Amethyst her eldest, she frowned, but then tilted her head in confusion. She hadn¡¯t seen her face at first, and both the girl¡¯s position and recent disposition had given her a moment of fear.


    Amethyst sat atop a very tall tree. The realm¡¯s tallest tree species in fact. Most were taller than skyscrapers, but this one was merely half of that.


    The perch gave her an unrivaled view of not only the festival grounds, but also the dump.


    A dump that both Armor and Amethyst were shocked to see was being converted into a garden.


    Trash was being lifted and moved, and others worked the land. Some cultivators used basic techniques known by even the most basic of farmers, but the magnitude of available workers was unmatched; which only increased the quality of the renovations exponentially.


    Amethyst smiled at the work being done, while her younger sister Ash obviously felt completely different.


    When Armor finally settled on her second born, the only other child as driven as Arsenal, Ash, her heart skipped a beat.


    Ash was in the clouds above a flying limousine, filled with the core members of BlackHole. The bomb she held of Auto¡¯s design, could have only been completed with the help of many of her other siblings. That same bomb that Armor couldn¡¯t help but smile when she saw.


    The smile only got wider when Ash, and a few others in hoods landed on the roof of the limousine as it flew toward the festival grounds.


    ¡°Good luck little Arson, you have met a flame grander than your own.¡±


    ¡­


    Arsenal chose to hide his crown as he sulked through the festival. He¡¯d originally been in a grand mood, but the more he saw of his unknown son¡¯s accomplishments, the more his mood soured.


    Arsenal had long had a problem with his children. Not that he didn¡¯t love them all, more that none of his children were as versatile as himself, his wife, nor any of the more refined ancients that held significant power within the CityNation of maelstrom, and or the Archon family.


    His youngest son on the other hand had managed to gather both power, notoriety and even an obvious wealth that made the man¡¯s frown deepen. All his other children would have struggled to create the festival around him with the support of one another, let alone with orphans older than themselves without the privileges of being an HonorBorn.


    ¡°The maiden plays us all for fools sooner or later¡­¡±


    He felt anger build in his chest and had to force down the flames that began to leak from his pores. None of these people had taken his son from him; so their deaths wouldn¡¯t help, nor bridge the gap between him and Arson. Far from it.


    The best candidate for the throne, can never claim it¡­


    The food was good. The people who catered to the public, were well-trained and precise in their duties. Even other high nobles that the king had spotted, that must have also snuck in to scout things out seemed surprised by both the service and to realize the king was present and also incognito.


    Arsenal found himself not only excited to see what was next, but also wondered if there was any way to change the fate of his family.


    ¡°I may be a fool being used by you, Maiden, but we will see who laughs when my will cracks the heavens and defies all reason. I will choose as I please, laws of the realms be damned¡­¡±


    ¡­ End of Vol 1¡­


    Epilogue: The will of Ikarus


    Jade walked through the dump with the sounds of celebration in the background. She smiled at the thought of her son and what he¡¯d done in such a short time.


    With his return, her life had changed. Not only for the better, but had also become more difficult, which had only surprised Jade.


    She¡¯d learned to live with the cares of very few people, but found herself more and more wrapped up with the village that was attached to Arson.


    Her son must have been a leader even before even he¡¯d known it, as Jade believed that his current group of friends wouldn¡¯t have been so quick to follow a seven season old child, potentially wealthy or not.


    Many scions had wealth. Even more had unfathomable power in the day and age they lived in.


    Their realm was near to heaven, and only two realms could claim to rival the amount of mana or Uni-Vare found within their realm.


    One was the realm of the 21 families of Omni and Omen, Endless, which in fact was once said to rival heaven itself. The other was her home, Cloud Lake City, a place she missed but could never return to. Something she hoped to be able to change one day with the aid of her son.


    Finally she came to the black hole nearest to her home and jumped in. Darkness enveloped her, until gravity shifted and she was forced to turn her dive into an upward assent.


    When she emerged a new landscape was revealed. A land lost to time and space. The dead world of magic and creation, SunSpire Citadel.


    ¡°If Arsenal knew I could come back here whenever I pleased, he¡¯d spark his own pants,¡± said Jade as she landed. She had one destination in mind and was excited to complete her task.


    There was only one way she knew of to speak with the guardian of Endless, and that was through the only Mirror of Uni-Vare she¡¯d ever managed to find. The path was long, but she was patient and in no rush, and managed to find the mirror inside a building large enough to block out the 7 multi-colored suns above.


    Once inside she flew to the top floor, which took longer than her entire trip so far to travel. She walked into a room with a stadium sized pool and no walls only pillars. The space was only reachable from within, and after the Construct Tower¡¯s trials were completed. A feat she managed while pregnant¡­


    ¡°Hello, PRO¡­¡±


    Once in the middle, a body of a beautiful woman formed from the water and smiled at Jade before she spoke.


    ¡°Ahh, hello my favorite, are you here to ascend finally and complete Heavens Tribulation, Elizabeth? You know I still believe you are the one the Fates speak of, I¡¯m excited to see your return to the Towers of Endless,¡± said the beautiful woman. Jade merely shook her head and smiled.


    ¡°No PRO, I actually need to cash in that favor you owe me.¡± The woman smiled and nodded before she spoke.


    ¡°Oh, and what may you have the teachers of Origin do for you, my darling?¡±


    ¡°I need you to kidnap my son.¡±

 Chapter 1: There is no hiding the truth

    ¡°Yes, you over there,¡± said the teacher. She pointed at the seven year old Arson, who blushed as a large part of the much older class looked his way. He focused both on what he wanted to ask, as well as attempted to invoke a mature presence, even though he was still a kid.


    ¡°So, are we to say that it is our direct understanding of ourselves as much as Cultivation that determines our direct progress? Can that really be the only factor that limits us beside our body and soul,¡± asked Arson. The teacher sighed once more and turned back to the diagram she¡¯d drawn on the smart board for the class.


    ¡°Always return to your most basic fundamental,¡± said the elderly teacher. Arson had pushed the curriculum much further than the teacher had wanted for the first day of class, and Arson knew it. He didn¡¯t care, but he was still aware, and at least tried to make his passion for knowledge seem to be for the benefit of the entire class. Arson cut her off before she could once again repeat herself.


    ¡°Of course, Mind, Body, and Soul, but how does our own understanding of those aspects of Cultivation lead to the manifestation of our internal and external cores of power?¡± The teacher rolled her eyes.


    ¡°The way you speak, young man, is as if you believe that all who understand can become Cultivators, some with the largest understanding of Cultivation in the world have never manifested cores, others don¡¯t understand themselves enough, nor have enough extra soul energy to develop natural matter and element manipulation,¡± said the teacher. Arson opened his mouth to cut in and she raised her hand to stop him before she continued.


    ¡°I will give you an example, for my brother, his body naturally ran hotter than most, his eyes seemed to be naturally backlit with a flickering light, and his mind jumped from thought to thought only to capture everything it touched, any guesses?¡± Nearly the entire class yelled different variations of names for flame Cultivators, and the teacher nodded along.


    ¡°The problem for most of us is how we convolute the use of mana, while the actual use is truly instinctual at its base, Cultivation isn¡¯t being smart, healthy, or powerful by themselves, but all of them at once, to the best of your own abilities, you are a very intelligent young man, but I can tell you may never manifest your own cores if you continue to let your head get in the way, this is something for you to feel out, as well as think about and grow into.¡± The words sparked something and Arson closed his mouth for what the teacher felt to be the first time in the class. To her relief he stayed that way and had even closed his eyes in meditation; which allowed for her to return the class to a much more mundane topic.


    Meanwhile, Arson¡¯s mind raced. He felt it, not exactly how the teacher described it to him, but in his own way.


    ¡°You are a Cultivator Arson,¡± mumbled Arson to himself. The heat of the sun struck his face and his skin warmed. He smiled as the room¡¯s air conditioner blew a cool breeze on his face. The air further centered him and allowed him to deepen his concentration.


    While others would see these external stimuli as distractions, they only helped train Arson¡¯s focus. It wasn¡¯t hard for Arson to meditate while in the light of the sun or moon; he actually found it to be much more difficult to concentrate in dark places.


    So, where do I begin? Mind, right? Might as well go in order I guess¡­ Said Arson inwardly.


    Arson thought about his mind. He felt regular, but many proclaimed him to be intelligent. He also assumed his mind worked like everyone else¡¯s did, but begun to believe maybe that was his issue.


    A Cultivator¡¯s journey was never shared, mirrored or even mimicked, it was a person¡¯s thumbprint to godhood and more. It was meant to be personal, not even your own twin would be able to walk your path, or fit in the shoes you wore toward immortality.


    Arson¡¯s mind was like a vault. He actually imagined his mind to be that of a night sky, filled with stars. The more he learned, the more stars that he felt were added to the limitless canvas.


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    He¡¯d felt this way about his mind for as long as he could remember. Many would say that at the age of seven his memory wouldn¡¯t be very¡­ long, but Arson was mature for multiple reasons.


    Not only did he remember everything down to the way his doctor pulled him from his mother¡¯s body at birth, and the odd look on his mother¡¯s face when the woman showed him to her, but even his mother¡¯s raised hand was captured in film-like quality by his mind as she declined to hold him.


    Every waking moment had been stored in his mind for his own viewing ever since, and it was something Arson worried would change as he got older if he didn¡¯t become a Cultivator by puberty.


    There was no way a normal brain could continue to fill with everything it saw, heard, or experienced at a maximum capacity for very long, before the brain would either shut down or slow.


    Even still, Arson felt there was no limit to his mind¡¯s abilities. He felt his mind was that star filled sky that he imagined inside, so intimately in fact, that stars could literally be seen visibly projected in his irises.


    This was one of many reasons why he was accepted into a Cultivation school at the tender age of seven years old. Arson would have thought his near endless energy when in sun or moonlight would have been what attracted Cultivation schools, but apparently that trait was almost normal.


    Apparently, many could go without sleep if they were physically close to a potentially aligned element, or directly connected element to the Cultivators soul¡­ after a core set was manifested.


    The only thing Arson was unsure of was his soul. His foundation of power. The light within. The canvas of a Cultivator¡¯s path in which they were to paint reality in their own image.


    Arson felt his soul was powerful, but how to define the feeling was weird for Arson to describe. He mentally entered his soul space and took in the empty area. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t have a soul, but that it remained invisible to even a Cultivator until they manifested their core set.


    Even still, the energy within the space could be felt and made Arson smile. Inside his soul realm felt like the sun hitting your face on a winter day in the middle of a storm.


    The chill of freezing water ran down his spine, his skin prickled and the feeling extended further. He thought he heard someone speak his name momentarily, but ignored it as he felt different within his soul realm in that moment.


    It was as if the words of the teacher had unlocked a barrier that had separated Arson from something rather simple. He needed to balance how much he felt, and thought, instead of his previous singular focus, or tunnel vision.


    His breath evened out further, and his entire environment changed, as if Arson had somehow gained the ability to see in a pitch black room instantaneously.


    The feeling of the sun struck him first, and Arson watched as a swirl of golden white light swirled in a violent vortex in the center of the space, until a sun appeared around the vortex. Arson almost gasped, but knew that whatever process he¡¯d just initiated, needed his entire focus.


    He then concentrated on the feeling of the storm of chaotic energies he often felt. The tingle of sparks, the sensation of uncontrolled water, and even the frozen chill consumed him temporarily. Only for his soul realm to change again.


    A ring of frozen particles wrapped a perfect circle around the sun, and glimmered as it emitted a rolling fog filled with energy outward into Arson¡¯s soul realm.


    Arson was unaware of what he was doing, but he¡¯d stumbled across a technique for core manifestation, so old, it had never been given a name. Nor was it even seen as a realm of possible core creation in the modern era of technology and sciences.


    When the ring stopped its outward expansion, the sun at its center began to interact with the cloud of frozen energy particles. The sun shot light from its own tendrils as they twirled in constant motion around the sun, only for the light to twist through the cloud at alarming speeds.


    Then the energy formed some sort of golden white ball of lightning within the sun¡¯s ring before it expelled it to orbit around the outside of the cloud of particles. The ball of lightning was somehow frozen, yet still managed to flicker like sparks, which confused Arson. But the sun continued to spit light and more and more of the balls of frozen lightning were formed and seemingly stored, just outside the ring to orbit the sun as well.


    The process stopped after three balls were formed and Arson felt there was nothing more he could do. So he took another deep breath and finally opened his eyes.


    When he looked around he found his entire classroom was staring. Staring, as a collective group, huddled in a corner, across the room.


    Desks were turned over. Some of the ceiling lights exploded, and somehow the teacher¡¯s smart board had detached entirely from the wall and now sat folded in half over the teacher¡¯s desk.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Arson looked around in confusion, until he found the eyes of the teacher.


    She¡¯d ducked behind her desk during whatever had occurred, and now only stared just above Arson¡¯s head.


    When Arson looked up to see what the teacher was looking at, he saw it. A golden white crown made out of light, sparks, and frozen particles that floated above his head like a halo. It wasn¡¯t until he looked at the crown that the red frame popped up in his vision, which he read aloud in a daze.


    ¡°Welcome to the system of creation and destruction, or the world of mana, magic, and energy Cultivation, Arson Omni¡­¡± Arson didn¡¯t finish reading but looked at the teacher instead. The teacher still staring.


    ¡°Hey thanks, guess you were right, I do think too much.¡±

 Chapter 2: The Heir to Omnipotence

    The head of Arson¡¯s orphanage had been in his principal¡¯s office for hours now. Arson¡¯s partial core formation had caused quite a stir for multiple reasons.


    The first was that he managed to do it so young. Only the most honor born families within the nation had children manifest cores before the age of 13, and only 11 known families had managed to achieve the same feat before the age of 11. The 10 noble houses, and the royal family itself.


    Secondly, was the issue of Arson¡¯s crown. Internal cores, had external manifestations. A creation of matter that was both the embodiment of a Cultivator¡¯s will, formed through matter manipulation into reality.


    The problem was that Arson¡¯s was a crown. Many had crowns as a symbol of their power, but normally only one individual per family line received a crown. It was the System¡¯s way of designation to a family¡¯s true heir.


    Arson hadn¡¯t even known his own last name until the prompt when he partially formed his core informed him that he¡¯d finally joined the world of Uni-Vare, or mana. He was the son of a queen, and nothing could change that.


    ¡°So you throw the boy out!¡± His Orphan Mother¡¯s voice could be heard through the walls and Arson winced. There was no way the school would let him stay now. The size of the scandal that would most likely erupt if and when this information became public knowledge, would shake the very foundation of the society they lived in.


    The royal family had six children already, which maxed out their family size at eight. The problem was that none of those six children had received a crown as their core symbol, and now Arson had, after being disowned by law.


    He had no tie to the family, excluding blood, nor would he be allowed to lead his family into the next generation by law, even though the crown pretty much declared that he was the one fated to do so.


    Arson didn¡¯t care about royal families, ruling nations, nor what he was expected to do. He wanted to do one thing, and one thing alone. Cultivate.


    He wiped tears from his eyes, closed them and concentrated a moment. When he opened his eyes again his System overlay appeared and words filled his vision. He finished the rest of the prompt aloud to tone out the yells from the next room.


    ¡°As a Cultivator, you will have many choices to make, first though you must complete your core construction process, your bloodline has granted you the trinity core, a core for each piece of yourself, mind, body and soul¡± When Arson finished the box, another popped up, and he read.


    ¡°Core completion process 66%, complete, Soul core 100%, Body core, 50%, Mind core, 50%, follow the lines of power to complete the construction of your trinity core.¡±


    Not knowing what else to do, and still being plagued by the nearby argument, he decided to meditate.


    His ability to clear his mind was unrivaled for someone his age, but not seen as a particularly unachievable skill to gain for a Cultivator, at any age.


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    He once more entered his soul realm and looked around. The sun and frozen particle storm around it still remained. Three orbs of frozen lightning orbited the structure in a triangle formation.


    Arson smiled and felt the energy wash over his entire being. It was just as he began to look around, that he noticed a solid string of light that shot from the apex of the sun directly into the void above, but before he could begin to explore further, two things happened simultaneously.


    The void all around his soul core, filled with stars. His stars, the stars that symbolized his every memory, thought, and even every grain of information that his brain stored; a split second before a hand landed on his shoulder.


    ¡°Woah there, bud, it¡¯s just me.¡± Arson opened his eyes to see Almarine his Orphan Mother.


    ¡°Are we leaving now?¡± asked Arson. Tears rolled free of his eyes as he tried to smile back up at the woman. She nodded and looked away as her eyes watered.


    The walk back to the orphanage was slow and silent, but Arson was able to look over more of the overlay¡¯s option windows and menus. He currently had empty core, skills, and craft tabs. As well as a status screen that showed him everything about himself.


    His height, age, name, both first and last, which was hard for him to get used to, and his stats.


    Arson found what he saw on that screen to be odd and not at all what he expected. Instead of the renowned stats, such as strength, vitality, dexterity, agility, wisdom, intelligence, and spirit, there was only three options.


    Weapon: 1, Armor: 1, and System: 1. These were the only three options Arson had to choose from, and a section that showed his available stats, which read +3. Arson knew for a fact that a Cultivator was also supposed to only start out with 0 in every category, where Arson had 1. He didn¡¯t know what that meant and wished he could ask his teacher tomorrow in school. A chance he would never get.


    The large, yet dilapidated building came into view and Arson felt good to be home at last. His first day at school, was long, and also his last day at school. He was excited to get into bed after all the crying he¡¯d done exhausted him.


    Where are we going?¡± asked Arson when Almarine headed passed the main entrance and toward the large manor behind the orphanage.


    ¡°You can¡¯t stay with the non-Cultivator children anymore Arson, we have to get a key to the manor for you, and find a work duty to pay for your housing fees. You¡¯re considered an adult by law now.¡± Arson¡¯s stomach dropped, and he stumbled slightly. Almarine didn¡¯t dare look at the boy as his tears started once more. She felt a true pain in the silence of his crying, and wanted to be able to find sleep that night, so she joined him in that moment.


    ¡°Might as well get it out now,¡± mumbled Almarine. Arson wiped away his tears as he looked at the woman.


    ¡°Get what out?¡±


    ¡°Nothing boy¡­now think about the jobs you¡¯ve heard the others talk about and tell me what you want to do,¡± responded Almarine with a sniffle, as if she needed to clear her throat.


    ¡°Are you ok Ms. Mary, you don¡¯t sound good. You haven¡¯t been smoking again, have you?¡±


    ¡°No, I have not, child. Now mind your own, and tell me what you want to do with your time, within reason.¡±


    ¡°You know me Ms. Mary, I¡¯d love to work in the library or gym, but know that the spaces are already taken, makes me feel like I should go work at the junkyard dump, at least I know its available and I won¡¯t be bored to death while I try and get into another school,¡± declared Arson. He spoke as he thought and the words felt right to him, and he felt a buzz of energy fill his chest. As if his soul wasn¡¯t enough of a sign, Almarine¡¯s nod, confirmed his decision for him.


    They entered the manor and Arson was shocked at how nice the inside of the home was. The orphanage had made him accustomed to a life without space, or any kind of amenities. While this place, had room for him to grow.


    Almarine gave him a key after they¡¯d entered her home office, and a sheet of paper with the name of the person to report to for his new work duties.


    ¡°There is only one room left, and you have to share it with a girl named Troy, she is in her final year before she leaves to find a home of her own, so respect her orders. It¡¯s been her space alone for four years, so also respect her space and privacy.¡± Arson nodded in response and made his way up one side of the twin arching staircases that led to the upper floors.


    He then had to take an elevator to the seventh floor and make his way down another few hallways before he found room 1107 and used his keycard to enter.


    ¡°Hello, Troy, my name is Arson and I¡­¡± Arson stopped talking when he made eye contact with the girl he¡¯d caught in the middle of climbing out of a window.


    ¡°am your new roommate,¡± finished Arson as his voice cracked and the door shut behind him.


    ¡°Hmmm, ok, you coming?¡±

 Chapter 3: A Life Anew

    ¡°Coming where?¡± asked Arson. Troy just rolled her eyes and smiled.


    ¡°Asking too many questions isn¡¯t going to put you in my good graces, nor get you any friends if you come with me. So are you or not? If not, just leave my sparking things alone and we¡¯ll be just fine.¡±


    ¡°Ok,¡± said Arson. He accepted the fact that the girl didn¡¯t want her things touched. It was a trait of all the kids that grew up in the orphanage, but Troy mistook his acceptance of this for eagerness to come along.


    ¡°Well then, hold my bag until we get there, this thing is heavy and you look like you need some physical training.¡± Troy dropped the bag and it hit the ground like a bag of bricks. Arson tried to explain himself, but Troy was already making her way down the fire escape at full speed.


    Arson made his way over to the bag and struggled to lift it, and momentarily wondered if it was actually a bag full of bricks. Before he could manage to say a word about not going, the girl was already yelling about how slow he moved and how much they had to get done.


    Arson fell on his face after he barely managed to pull the backpack through the window. He cursed as he rose to his feet and thanked the Maiden that moonlight filled him with energy. He normally only needed three hours of sleep a night to be fully satiated, but with how much the moonlight seemed to thrum with power as it touched his skin and filled his body, he wondered if even that would still be necessary.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to become a lot faster if you''re going to work for me, kid.¡± Troy turned and walked off before Arson could once again attempt to hand her the bag. He rushed after her near seven foot frame, as his five foot stature needed to run as she merely walked fast.


    ¡°What do you mean work for you?¡±


    ¡°As my corner kid, I don¡¯t have time to explain, I¡¯m almost late for my first bout of the night and don¡¯t want to pay fees. Come on!¡± Arson and Troy ran. It got to the point that Arson was almost half a block behind Troy as she walked. He knew she could run and probably make it on time, but appreciated that she waited on him.


    At first he¡¯d been angry that she pretty much assumed he wanted to come and pulled him along. Then he realized he might be about to witness his first live fight with Cultivators and decided not to complain. Instead, he ran until he wheezed and his mouth was dry to the point he felt his lips would fall off his face.


    After an entire hour of winding paths and seemingly endless sprinting, they stopped at the front of a dirty nightclub named, The Mana Well.


    ¡°Come on, kid!¡±


    They rushed through the back door and into a locker room. Troy signaled for her bag and told Arson to turn around as she changed.


    Before he knew it, he followed Troy into an area with a circular arena surrounded on all sides by fans. Across from the side they entered on was another young man that seemed to be Troy¡¯s age, accompanied by an older gentlemen that analyzed Troy¡¯s physique and whispered in the boy¡¯s ear.


    ¡°What am I supposed to do, that guy seems to be breaking you down for your opponent, he thinks you don¡¯t have any fundamental training, probably rely on kicks far too much, and wants that guy to feint often before he sweeps your legs,¡± said Arson as he read the man¡¯s lips from across the stage. Troy froze in her warm up and looked back at Arson.


    ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°Same way I know that bartender keeps lying about the price of drinks to people, I can read lips,¡± said Arson. Troy nodded and smiled.


    ¡°Looks like you might be a valuable corner to have. What else is he saying?¡±


    ¡°Something about stick to the plan, end her career tonight, if she has no legs, she can¡¯t come back and beat you in the tournament next month,¡± said Arson. Troy laughed and nodded once more.


    ¡°Thanks kid. What¡¯s your name anyway?¡±


    ¡°Arson, nice to meet you Troy,¡± said Arson as he stuck out a hand. The girl lowered her hood for the first time and Arson was struck by how beautiful she was.


    Incredible dirty blonde curls framed what Arson thought to be perfection carved around heterochromatic eyes, one green and the other blue.


    ¡°Nice to meet you kid, now grab a bucket and fill it with water, find a rag in case there is blood and if you can manage to find an extra pair of hand wraps before the match begins shortly, bring them back here ASAP.¡± Arson nodded and was on the move. It didn¡¯t take him long to find the bucket, nor the rag, but the wraps proved impossible so Arson returned before the match had a chance to begin.


    Troy bounced throughout the ring, and performed a dazzling amount of aerial kicks and flips to put an emphasis on her kickboxing prowess. Arson smiled as he felt she knew what she was doing after a moment of thought, as he had warned her.


    ¡°Ok folks, this is the one we¡¯ve been waiting for, it may not be the main event but we all know who this is, make some noise for¡­ The Queen of Troy!¡± The crowd erupted and Arson clapped as Troy flipped around the ring.


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    ¡°Across from her we have the unrivaled prodigy, Lucas the Elemental!¡± The crowd once again erupted into celebration over the match and Arson managed to boo Troy¡¯s opponent. The young man bobbed in place and kept his eyes on Troy at all times.


    Then the match began and Arson¡¯s life was changed forever. He¡¯d seen many Cultivator fights online, but this experience for him was paramount.


    ¡°Beat the sparks off him, Troy!¡± Arson looked around after he cursed and realized any adult that heard him, supported him rather than scorned his use of profanity.


    Troy moved like a shadow, or flickering light. Arson couldn¡¯t tell what happened as the girl moved, but he knew more was behind how quickly she bobbed and weaved through Lucas¡¯s attacks than the average person¡¯s eye could catch.


    ¡°He¡¯s scared, push ¡®im, woman!¡± Arson yelled his lungs out while Troy boxed her opponent to the edge of the ring. Her opponent was not doing well and it was obvious. Troy hadn¡¯t thrown a single kick the entire match and Lucas now paid for his coaches assumptions.


    ¡°Sparks! That looked like it hurt!¡± Lucas slowly came to his feet and roared after Troy hit him square in his jaw line so many times Arson knew he had to be a Cultivator. Regular people would have been either asleep on their feet or dead after the amount of savage hits the young man took.


    His entire body lit with flames and Troy grinned as if she was waiting for this moment. Arson couldn¡¯t see anything but excitement on her features as she raised her hands again.


    Before Lucas could charge her, the bell rang and the first round ended. Troy walked over to Arson and she smiled.


    ¡°Thanks kid. That fool watched my legs so hard, I almost punched his sparking eye out of its socket,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°No problem, from what I can tell, they are assuming that you are going to come in kicking this round and they will be able to counter you with a lightning slap, or clap, can¡¯t quite tell on that one,¡± said Arson with a shrug.


    ¡°Wipe me down and give me some water, wait, are you saying these idiots are about to do the same thing as last round?¡± Arson laughed and nodded.


    ¡°Seems like it, if you see an early sweep, crush em, the first one is fake,¡± Troy grinned like a devil and Arson tried not to match hersneer.


    The second round began and Troy was in the air with a head kick long before she closed in. Arson smiled as he felt he knew what her plan was. She initiated with a kick, to let her opponent feel his plan would work this time, while she simultaneously closed the distance.


    Then, Troy threw a whole bunch of punches. Arson winced as Lucas came off the ground after a particularly gruesome uppercut. His body caught flames, only for them to be snuffed out by a combo of body strikes.


    Then Troy swept the leg, Lucas found himself finally being kicked more than any person should deserve in a single lifetime for any crime Arson knew of, and before the match could end another bell rang.


    ¡°What¡¯s the scoop kid,¡± said Troy as she approached.


    ¡°I have no idea, the old man has his mouth covered so I¡¯m only getting half of the plan really, something about shoot far, then charge close, I don¡¯t know what the sparks that means,¡± said Arson with a smile.


    ¡°Me either. Maybe a ranged attack before a movement skill, seems like a lot of mana for his level though?¡± asked Troy, but Arson felt the question was more her own hypothesis, rather than something for him to give his input on. Regardless, he spoke up.


    ¡°He¡¯s all flash, he¡¯s caught on fire for flair twice now, and he¡¯s called Lucas of the Elements, he can¡¯t be all fire right, I suggest go big or go home, you got five rounds, end it in the third with something flashy of your own, this kid is garbage,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°You say that kiddo, but I¡¯ve lost 11 times prior to him, he always outthinks me, for the first time I feel confident in a way that I haven¡¯t before, so for that I appreciate you, little man, and I think I will take your advice and put it all on the line,¡± said Troy as she came to her feet. In that moment, Arson felt like he mattered. After using one of the many skills he¡¯d gained that some called useless or childish, he¡¯d helped someone. Yet another factor that solidified the importance of the night for Arson.


    ¡°Beat the spark plugs off him, Troy!¡± Arson yelled in the silence before the match started and the crowd erupted into laughter. Troy only closed her eyes and rolled her neck. She waited until the bell rang to take her stance.


    A bolt of lightning snapped out of the air above Troy and she had already moved out of the way with the slightest step forward. She dodged the bolt entirely and Lucas was caught off guard by a completely ready Troy, who capitalized on his forward momentum and his shock.


    The spin kick that Troy delivered was beautiful. Not only did she manage to time her kick perfectly at Lucas¡¯s jaw, she¡¯d somehow cloned herself.


    A mirrored projection of hardened light both formed and performed an identical kick to Troy. Two heels slammed into Lucas¡¯s face at one time, and Arson saw the young man lose consciousness.


    Arson felt like he¡¯d captured the entire fight in his mind and a new star would be able to be visited in his mind as he jumped in celebration with the rest of the crowd around him.


    Troy ran over to him and gave him a high five. The two danced with the nearby crowd, and Troy then led Arson out of the room.


    ¡°Then you kicked his leg out from under him and I thought it was over, not going to lie, I think they ended the second round early to keep Lucas in the fight longer, I heard someone say something about betting odds being real bad if he lost in the second round or whatever that means,¡± said Arson as they entered the locker room. They spoke on the fight, and Troy thanked Arson over and over for his assistance, which made him excited to come to her next fight. He hoped she would allow for him to come again, and was about to ask when a knock came on the door.


    ¡°Yo, Troy my Queen, I got your winnings and an offer my dear.¡± A man walked in the room and Arson scowled and raised his arms wide to try and cover the view toward Troy as she changed.


    ¡°Yeah, Seven, what kind of deal?¡± asked Troy, apparently unfazed by the man¡¯s entry.


    ¡°Down, boy,¡± said Troy as she finished up and walked toward the man named Seven.


    ¡°I think you will love it, how does 1500 credits a fight sound?¡± said Seven. Arson felt Troy about to accept, excitement in her eyes and the moment froze for Arson.


    An image of the crowd popped into his mind, and he counted the occupancy. Followed by the cost of Drinks on the board above the bar. The entry fee sign at the front door, and the minimum bet the house allowed per match, and cut in before Troy could accept.


    ¡°Spark no! Get out of her face with such a garbage offer! She just beat an elite and you know it. I bet you would even try to sign her at that pitiful amount too, wouldn¡¯t you? Considering how much you¡¯re going to make with a powerful female fighter.¡± The room was silent. Troy couldn¡¯t believe that Arson would turn down what she believed to be such a large amount of money, while Seven couldn¡¯t believe a kid was the one to point out how small an amount it truly was.


    ¡°Well I mean, I am allowed to offer a little more per fight I guess,¡± said Seven. Arson nodded and Troy¡¯s entire demeanor shifted. Those words weren¡¯t what she expected to hear, not for a second.


    ¡°Let me guess, anything she doesn¡¯t push for, you get to keep right, well let me tell you something buddy, with a house capacity of 10 thousand, and entry price of 100 credits per person, anywhere from 3 to 4 drinks per person with an average drink cost of 50 credits, the millions your people are getting for her fights won¡¯t keep coming if we advertise at different arenas, right¡­?¡± Arson let his words hang for a moment as Seven did the math himself, and Arson wondered if he began to contemplate his own pay.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah, kid name your price,¡± said Seven.


    ¡°100k a fight for as long as she wins, with a 10k credit pay cut for every loss, or 10k pay increase for every win when her rate is below 100k, consecutive victories have a 15k pay increase, but she still caps out at 100k a fight, and we all renegotiate in a year,¡± said Arson. He guessed on the averages prominent fighters were paid and shot for the stars, only to realize in the end, he could have shot higher.


    ¡°Hmmm, not bad kid, looks like I will only make a few hundred thousand a fight off getting her under contract, but credits add up.¡± Troy dropped her jaw in surprise and Seven left without another word.


    ¡°I was going to take pocket change for fights, kid, and I would have been happy,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Yeah, but 100k isn¡¯t really a lot of credits, especially with how long it may take you to recoup after each fight,¡± said Arson. It wasn¡¯t until that moment that Troy truly took in Arson. She looked at him from head to toe and frowned.


    ¡°Hey, is your crown real?¡±

 Chapter 4: How Could You Possibly Know?

    Arson sat on the fire escape of the manor and watched the sunset. His night had been long, but he still felt ready for the day. He listened to music as he kicked up his feet and planned his day.


    Even as he thought of what was next, his mind drifted toward the previous night. His conversation with Troy about his crown. His realization that he probably didn¡¯t or wouldn¡¯t need sleep for a very long time. As well as a handful of other things his status had no current explanation for.


    Troy hadn¡¯t seen Arson¡¯s crown until Seven had left the locker room. Arson was confused and almost passed it off as coincidence, until he thought about how Troy had analyzed her opponent in the ring. A detail like a floating crown wouldn¡¯t have been missed by her, and she said as much.


    After a few moments of awkward silence, and some mental prods at what Arson felt to be his connection with his half formed core. Troy noted that she could no longer see it.


    ¡°Was little Arson maybe shy and didn¡¯t want me to see his new giant sparking crown? I mean, I can¡¯t blame you, it¡¯s cool as sparks but seriously intimidating to look at,¡± said Troy in an attempt to joke. Arson didn¡¯t take the joke well, and he made it disappear.


    He left it invisible as far as he knew, and then found it in his soul realm. Just above the sun at the center.


    It wasn¡¯t until he decided to meditate on the balcony after Troy fell asleep that he didn¡¯t feel quite right. It wasn¡¯t until his crown was touched once again by the light of the sun and stars that he felt what he assumed to be his new normal. Wide awake and with the sensation to work on something.


    So instead of procrastination, he chose proactivity. He got to his feet and rolled his eyes as a dozen of Almarine¡¯s famous quotes ran through his head.


    ¡°Procrasti what, not in this nation!¡± Arson laughed to himself as he made his way down the fire escape, and then further when the quote could be heard repeated throughout the grounds of the orphanage.


    He smiled to himself as he made his way even further out of town and toward the junkyard dump. The city of Maelstroms very own combination, junkyard, and dump.


    Arson honestly chose the job because nobody ever did and he wanted to know why. He had heard rumors that the place was haunted, among other things. None of which he believed, but he would find out he supposed. Even more, he felt oddly¡­ excited?


    ¡°Hello?¡± Arson made his way into the dump and had to traverse a few kilometers of random waste heaps before he found the entrance to the junkyard and a large warehouse like building.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Who are you,¡± said a voice just behind Arson. He jumped as he turned around to see a woman with long white hair, and a tattoo of mythical birds that looked lifelike as they seemed to fly around her arm, shoulder and neck. There was even a dragon that spit flames onto her face. Each piece its own complete artwork.


    ¡°I am here to work the job offered, I don¡¯t know what exactly it entails, but I am willing to try if you are willing to train me, my name is Arson, it¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± Arson stuck out his hand and they shook.


    ¡°My name has changed many times, but you may call me by my title, Jade.¡± Arson felt a star light within his soul realm and he made note to visit whatever memory seemed to flare up when the woman introduced herself.


    ¡°You seem familiar, do I know you from somewhere,¡± said Arson. Jade shook her head and sighed.


    ¡°It¡¯s a common name now kid, don¡¯t think about it too much,¡± said Jade. Arson shrugged at the woman and followed as she turned to walk away. It was quite a while of roaming and aimless wandering before Arson felt he needed to speak up.


    ¡°Hey Jade, what am I supposed to be doing exactly?¡±


    ¡°We are almost there,¡± responded Jade. Not much longer and they arrived at a massive hole.


    The hole was surrounded on all sides by massive mountains of trash and debris. It was also so large neither the opposing side, nor the base of the hole could be seen. The smell that emanated from the entire place was unrivaled, but the hole itself seemed to spit miasma like fumes into the air, made visible by the density of trash and the sun¡¯s heat. Arson looked over to Jade as the woman shook her head in obvious displeasure.


    ¡°Our city has found things as marvelous as endless energy to power itself, water systems to cleanse the most contaminated liquids, and some can even extend their lives outside of cultivation, but trash is still trash, and no one sees the taint we leave behind to grow powerful, while our foundations erode from underneath us.¡± Arson wished he completely understood what the woman implied, but still tried to interact with the woman. He didn¡¯t care much for trash, but he guessed that, that was exactly Jade¡¯s point. No one did and that was the problem.


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    ¡°Makes me wish a strong cultivator would just come and wipe all the trash away, give us more room to grow, right?¡± His comment made Jade laugh, but Arson didn¡¯t know why she laughed so hard.


    ¡°Ahh, thank you for that kid, makes me feel young again, but even if that were to happen, how do you think it would occur, incineration, disintegration, teleportation maybe?¡± Arson looked around and shrugged once more.


    ¡°I¡¯d probably choose disintegration, flames mean more fumes and ash will spread, while teleportation doesn¡¯t really fix the problem, rather it makes it someone else¡¯s problem, not like we could recycle everything here, right?¡±


    Jade didn¡¯t respond for a very long time. So long in fact that Arson began to believe he¡¯d said something that may have been unchallenged when it came to idiocy. Then jade spoke up.


    ¡°Disintegration in this situation is nearly as bad as flames or teleportation, it was tried and this is what occurred,¡± said Jade with a point toward the giant hole.


    ¡°The amount of power and accuracy it would take to clean this entire area would require near divine intervention, so instead of fixing the problem, we patch it over and create new problems,¡± said Jade. A shovel appeared in her hand from literal thin air and she handed it to Arson.


    And so the first day of his job went. Arson shoveled piles of garbage into the giant hole, attached to mountain climbing gear Jade left him with. Apparently the reason no one worked at the place anymore was due to a handful of workers disappearing after they fell into the hole. Arson felt bad for the loss of life, but raked in the benefits of being paid an entire crews pay. He made over 25k in credits on his first day.


    The shovel he used to work was equipped with a sort of scale that could monitor how much weight was lifted, which determined his pay. Jade seemed surprised to find him still deep in his work each time she arrived to check on him. She assumed he would quit and she would return to find an abandoned shovel, only to come back each time with a more and more excited Arson.


    ¡°This place is a sparking treasure trove!¡± Jade¡¯s eyes widened at Arson¡¯s words.


    ¡°I have been here a long time Arson, and I believe that is the first time I have ever heard those words,¡± said Jade.


    ¡°I have found cultivation manuals from before the ban on higher learning without mentorship, slightly damaged weapons and armor, literal sparking mana cores, noble clothing, dirty yes, but what were washing machines made for if not dirt,¡± said Arson. He held up a mana core the size of his fist, that didn¡¯t seem to be empty at all, and pointed toward a pile of goods he¡¯d planned on asking Jade for.


    ¡°I see. if you sell me the mana cores you find, I don¡¯t mind you keeping the things you find and want to keep,¡± said Jade. The request struck Arson as wrong somehow. A full mana core should be a rare find in a place like this, but from Jade¡¯s words, she didn¡¯t seem to think so. Also, she¡¯d said ¡°sell¡± as in for credits or maybe something as mutually beneficial?


    ¡°That sounds fair I guess, but with you already paying me for my time, don¡¯t I technically owe you the cores anyway?¡± Jade shook her head before she responded.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here for more than 16 hours kid, you technically only owe me 1 shift a day, three or 4 times a week until you are 18 or get another job, and a single shift is 4 hours,¡± said Jade.


    Arson smiled as he realized he didn¡¯t have to work a single second more if he didn¡¯t want to that week,. Then his mind did the math on how many hours he owed the woman and immediately wanted to know more.


    ¡°2292 hours owed, minus the few I worked today I guess. Are there any restrictions on how many hours I can work a week? Also if I complete those hours early, does that mean my room and board are paid for until I¡¯m 18 and I can still look for another occupation? How exactly am I being funded?¡± Arson would have asked all dozen questions on his mind all at once if Jade hadn¡¯t spoken up.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care how quickly you complete the hours owed. That may matter at other jobs tied to the orphanage, but not here, once your hours are clocked, they are paid for. I¡¯ll give you 50k credits for every mana core you find that size or slightly larger, and higher depended on how big you can find ¡®em.¡± Arson looked at the core for only a second before he tossed the glowing white orb to the woman.


    ¡°Is there any chance I could turn some of that credit money into a sort of food allowance, I¡¯ve gotten hungry out here and know it will be a regular thing,¡± asked Arson. Jade only smiled at first, before she asked,


    ¡°How much of your budget do you want to use per core,¡± asked Jade. Then Arson¡¯s stomach rumbled so loud that he felt his cheek burn with embarrassment.


    ¡°Come on kid, let¡¯s go eat.¡±


    So they did. Jade took Arson to the inside of the large warehouse he¡¯d seen on his way to the hole and was shocked to find it empty.


    Before Arson¡¯s very eyes an entire home appeared from thin air as Jade swept her hand in a random direction. She walked up the stairs and through the front door. Arson almost didn¡¯t follow her inside, but she¡¯d left the door open, and he heard her obviously sit down in a chair nearby.


    When he walked inside he found Jade in front of a full table of what seemed to be a feast. A level of quality entirely unknown to Arson.


    ¡°Hurry up and eat before it gets cold, I don¡¯t like it when people eat my food and it isn¡¯t how was meant to be experienced.¡± Arson quickly sat down as the woman kicked her feet up onto the table.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t more people work here if you can pay so much for the cores you think are out there?¡± Arson¡¯s question was the first sound other than eating in the room and it took a moment for Jade to speak.


    ¡°Because of many factors, the smell, the physical labor, no one other than people who work for me know about the cores, amongst other things.¡±


    ¡°Am I to assume you want it to stay that way?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care either way, nothing you say or do will threaten my ownership of this place, and I only value the cores due to a promise I made to an old friend, not for personal use.¡± Arson thought to himself and nodded. The beginnings of a plan boiled in the back of his mind, but he would need a lot of help, and didn¡¯t know why he felt the sudden urge to step in to fix the problem his city faced. Trash.


    Trash wasn¡¯t a physical source for him to battle and grow in cultivation, but it was enough of an economic and environmental issue that Arson felt it worthy of a longterm goal, he wanted to clean his realm and make it beautiful, and he felt trash was a good place to start.


    ¡°I want to help out around here, and I don¡¯t know exactly where to start, but I have a few ideas that with time I think could solve the issue of the lack of workers that work for you, the low income base for the orphans of Maelstrom, and maybe even the abundance of trash that is only going to grow.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t get in your way, child. Just make sure that you don¡¯t forget to work your mandatory hours each week, it doesn¡¯t matter if you work 100 hours this week until you are paid off you have a three hour a week minimum that cannot be missed, so no weeklong vacations,¡± said Jade. Arson smiled as they both sat back stuffed. Arson groaned as he came to his feet, and Jade stared at him quizzically before she spoke up.


    ¡°Headed home?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± said Arson as he lifted his shovel and headed toward the front door.


    ¡°See you in the morning,¡± said Arson with a wave, but then he froze in the doorway and looked back at the woman.


    ¡°There will be breakfast if I work through the night, right?¡±

 Chapter 5: When Speaking Too Soon

    Arson hid on the top of a trash mountain and took back every word he spoke about trash being a non threat. As he looked around and saw discarded living armors battle each other, broken magical weapons without wielders cause chaos and even ghost battle in the anarchy below him, he knew.


    ¡°This is why people don¡¯t work here, who cares about sparking smells and mana cores when this is your work environment.


    Everything had gone fine at first. He¡¯d even managed to find another core. Then the sun set and all sparks surged loose in the dump, and Arson even got a prompt for being in the area after sundown.


    ¡°The affinities of the Uni-Vare can be touched through the stars at night, and nothing in this lifetime will experience more wasted potential than an item once used, then cast aside, by both the weak, and the powerful. This karmic energy has created a domain of resurrection that is powered at night and silent under the sun¡¯s grace. Be wary young Arson, the portal is open and mana thrums dangerously around you. Can you survive the night?¡± Arson didn¡¯t know what to do. He lay there terrified, and wished that he¡¯d left the first chance he¡¯d had.


    He clutched the mana core he¡¯d found and tried to meditate. The vibration in his hand made him calm slightly and he took deep breaths.


    He felt that he would have to get rid of the core soon as something told him it was why there were more creatures near the base of his trash mountain than others. Then Arson¡¯s mind set fire and he sat upright and looked around.


    In the moment of inspiration he had no fear. He merely looked around to search for what he thought was a hidden boon within all the chaos.


    More mountains in the distance had groups around them, some larger or smaller than the groups near Arson. They all battled for some reason, or some thing, and once again his mind flickered toward the mana core he held.


    ¡°Is knowing really worth 50k though,¡± said Arson as he cocked his arm back to throw. The white orb soared into the crowd at first and Arson was saddened that nothing changed.


    Then Arson was forced to duck down once more, as an entire crowd of robots burst free of an adjacent hill. The group exited the trash heap and fired on anything that moved. Arson thought that this would end the nearby battle, but then the sword came.


    A weapon that looked to be made of pure white marble and etched with diamonds swept down from above and cut the entire group in half. All that remained was dead robots and half crushed living armors.


    The coast was clear, but Arson didn¡¯t know how long that would last. So he rushed and retrieved the mana core. He even managed to strike a ghost as its ectoplasm used a living armor to reform itself. He swung with his shovel on pure instinct and was rewarded by his first ever bit of experience and prompt.


    ¡°You have killed ectoplasmic armor level 0.1, do you want to gain stats or experience?¡± Both the words Stats and Experience were highlighted in white gold and Arson chose stats before he rushed back up the mountain of trash he hid on originally. He¡¯d heard a noise and didn¡¯t want to get caught by whatever he¡¯d heard. So he hadn¡¯t truly taken the time to consider his choice entirely.


    Then Arson¡¯s worst fear occurred. A living armor landed nearby and Arson knew this was not trash, nor could it ever be called trash.


    The armor was absolutely beautiful. Arson couldn¡¯t tell if he looked at ancient shogunate armor or a mech suit. Then scattered bits of metal, mana, and a weird white fog that reminded Arson of the frozen particles in his soul realm, was sucked into the opened mask of the suit.


    Arson burned the memory into his mind as the suit took off into the sky in a burst of speed using dazzling white wings that contrasted the all black armor.


    ¡°Where the sparks am I right now¡­¡±


    More time passed and Arson grew angry that he¡¯d ended up in not only an immediately life threatening position, but he now also wasted time. Something he prided himself in not being a part of, ever.


    So Arson meditated through the fear; sounds of violence around him, and even another trash heap¡¯s complete obliteration.


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    All that was left in the distance, was an area that was left looking as if someone dumped a giant trash bag on the ground.


    Then Arson remembered his overlay. He felt like an idiot for not checking his status sooner, but he had lived his entire life without one,.


    Since then, he¡¯d been constantly assaulted with new experiences, after he managed to luckily become a Cultivator, and somehow gained a lot more freedom after being kicked out of school which made him wonder if he was going to be a lot more busy now that he was one.


    The window opened to show his stats page. The only thing different than the last time he saw the page, was the slot that read available stat points. It now read, 3.2 instead of 3.0.


    Arson looked at his three options once more and frowned. He still had no clue what, Weapon, Armor, and System actually correlated to in the cultivation world. Nor had he ever heard of them being options for stat allocation.


    Weapon, sounded as if it was going to maybe be a conglomeration of his offensive stats. While Armor could be defensive and maybe vitality, or regenerative stats. This left him to assume that System had to be mana based in nature. He put a point into weapon, and was immediately proved wrong in his conclusions.


    ¡°Sparks¡­¡± A window with seven offensive options popped up and Arson was shocked to see his allotted choices.


    ¡°Spark bolt: this lance of lightning does minimal damage at lower levels, but can both grow through use and the understanding of light or lightning based properties of Uni-Vare.


    Gravity pulse: this basic snap of force has the strength of a punch, and knocks back any prey weak enough to be subjected to the dome it creates. Force emitted and area of domes size is increased with both level and gained knowledge on space & time properties of Uni-Vare.


    Wind clouds: these three clouds orbit the Cultivator and shoot compressed gusts of wind at targets for as long as the ability is channeled. Movement while casting increases the mana cost. Strength of strikes and mana cost are both increased and decreased prospectively, based on the Cultivator¡¯s understanding of mana control and the wind properties of Uni-Vare.¡±


    Arson was shaken by those choices alone. He almost chose wind clouds immediately but knew he needed to look at all of his options, even if he felt like he was under pressure. He only got to make the choice of his first skill, once, and if he was going to be in this kind of environment regularly, he wanted to be prepared.


    ¡°Aura of light: This allows the Cultivator to increase their regeneration passively for both life force and mana can increase the rate of generation by expanding your understanding of the light, healing, and aura based properties of Uni-Vare.


    Beam of frost: this channeled beam of cold may take long to freeze an object but has an effect that increases the damage taken by ice over time, a relatively low mana cost and can be used easily while in motion. Effects intensify by increasing your understanding of cold, and water based properties of Uni-Vare.


    Conductive waters: this orb of water will not electrify your enemy, but is filled with the power of the sun¡¯s energy, so instead these boiling water atoms may boil the flesh from your foes or shut down electrical systems by literally drinking in all the energy they come in contact with. Size of orb conjured, stability of water and charged atoms, as well as how much energy can be drained is determined by the Cultivator¡¯s understanding of water, spatial forces, as well as the effects of foreign energies in regards to the properties of Uni-Vare.¡±


    Arson almost once again had to force himself to read on. The noises around him grew more and more alarming, but so did the strength that could be gained in his choice of a seemingly basic starting skill.


    ¡°Touch of the SunStorm Sovereign: combine all of the basic tools of the SunStorm Sovereign into one attack of pure devastation, increased by understanding nearly any attribute of Uni-Vare, *Note* this ability cannot be gained before gaining the six pieces of the SunStorm. This ability cannot be gained after level 1.0. Use wisely, even the SunStorm feared her own might.¡±


    Arson tried to select it before he¡¯d even read it all and sighed as he completed the small passage mentally. He looked around and made sure that he wasn¡¯t a moment away from death and looked over his options once more.


    All of the attacks seemed to be ranged which Arson enjoyed, as he didn¡¯t want to be close to a single creature below him. He also noted that some seemed to be a lot more vague in their descriptions, and Arson didn¡¯t know if that meant the abilities were more or less restricted, or if the descriptions lacked depth for another reason entirely.


    He looked around once more at all the types of enemies he saw below and made his choice. A new prompt greeted him as he came to his feet, ready for action.


    ¡°You have chosen, Conductive waters, a basic vision has been prepared for you to learn how to cast this ability as naturally as possible,¡± said Arson as he mumbled the prompt under his breath. He clicked yes on the prompt more worried about the creatures below, as more and more of the living armors seemed to make it pass the battles around them to be able to climb the trash mountain Arson had climbed. He was high up, but not high enough to feel safe.


    Then the vision took him. He saw a young girl that reminded him of Jade, only the girl¡¯s eyes were different, one golden and the other crimson.


    She fought 3 or more opponents, Arson couldn¡¯t tell as the enemies seemed to be blocked out of the vision. Their figures made of shadows and blurs of color.


    Arson wondered if this girl was the SunStorm Sovereign, but then was far too dazzled by her actions to care. She moved like lightning incarnate, only her limbs didn¡¯t move jerkily, but like calmly flowing water without obstruction or hindrance.


    The orb formed in her hand and Arson knew the first enemy she drove an orb through died instantly. Her hand exploded through the being¡¯s chest and Arson couldn¡¯t tell if it was the Orb or her punch.


    The blurred figure of the dead body remained wrapped around her arm, as she used the body to block more attacks as they came.


    The same orb still in hand, she shot it at a distant enemy only for the orb to take the enemies head off from what Arson could tell. Then she summoned two more orbs and closed in on her remaining opponents.


    Arson watched as the girl moved. In the vision it felt as if he could feel the combat firsthand. How she summoned the orb, how she changed it to accomplish both close and long ranged tasks.


    Arson knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to replicate all of the cool combat maneuvers he¡¯d witnessed in the vision, but if he could manage to use the orb situationally as she had, he manage to survive the night.


    He believed that for only as long as it took him to open his eyes. A living armor had managed to crest the peak of the small mountain Arson was on and locked onto his position, before it charged.


    ¡°You have to be sparking kidding me!¡±

 Chapter 6: The Grind Begins

    Arson raised his hands and a flood of energy swirled out from his palms violently. He didn¡¯t even manage to form the orbs properly before he sent them toward the living armor.


    The effect was lackluster but managed to spin the armor off its zombie-like feet after the two collisions occurred. Arson felt the sudden urge to attempt to spartan-kick the armor off the top of the trash heap like the girl in the vision, but then decided to charge two more orbs instead.


    ¡°Yeah, right,¡± said Arson and he fired two complete orbs at the creature as it rose. The second two orbs had a much more awe inspiring explosion that made Arson want to jump with excitement.


    ¡°Come on, you rusted spark plug, let¡¯s go!¡± The armor was blown through the air and landed on its neck, unaffected by the fall, but the chest plate he¡¯d managed to hit, sported a couple new orb sized dents.


    The creature rose to its feet once more and ran at Arson again. He charged another two orbs and on pure instinct alone mashed them together.


    They refused to merge at first, only to drain more mana from Arson as an even larger orb was formed, nearly as big as a basketball.


    ¡°Eat sparks!¡±


    Arson was ashamed that he missed his first kill. He shut his eyes and thrust both his hands forward. He felt the orb leave his hands, and even heard a ghostly wail of sorts.


    He didn¡¯t witness the orb drain all the mana from the creature as it died, detonate the life force within its body nor the explosive colors that twisted through the air as mana and experienced entered his body through his closed eyes and into his head.


    He heard an odd noise and opened his eyes a moment later to see, nothing but armor pieces scattered around the top of the heap.


    He looked around and didn¡¯t notice any immediate threats, but that would most likely change soon.


    A prompt for the fight popped up and Arson almost chose, experience over stats, but then remembered that for whatever reason, Touch of the SunStorm Sovereign couldn¡¯t be gained after level 1.0, or whatever that meant. So he once again decided stats.


    Then Arson¡¯s first robot came and he took aim and fired. The robot dodged the first orb, but the second hit the thing in its face, which caused an explosion, one Arson was able to witness.


    ¡°What did I say, come up here and you¡¯ll get the sparks!¡±


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    All volume control was gone for Arson, he clicked stats at the end of each fight. More came, and more stats were gained with each opponent defeated.


    Arson begun to see mana flow through the air toward him when he defeated certain opponents, actually, everything but the robots. He even managed to shoot a flying sword as it flew by that made him feel like he was going to burst.


    So he fired more shots until the feeling abated.


    Fewer enemies got a chance to climb the mountain as Arson began to patrol the perimeter of the heap he was on. He began to allow only one at a time to climb as the ones he stopped from the ascent entirely mixed back into the crowd and took his stat points with them.


    The single opponents that made it to the top had different names that popped up after they were defeated in an odd log that scrolled in the bottom left of Arson¡¯s vision.


    ¡°You have defeated a level 3.5 living armor, energy converted to stats, Enigma¡¯s Armor of descent rewards 3.5 stat points, conversion rate 100%¡±


    Arson was afraid to guess what any of the text meant, but he had a few ideas as to what he thought happened when he chose stats over experience after each fight.


    Something told Arson that if he chose experience over stats, his conversion rate would probably fall far short of 100%, but for now stats gave him a large return.


    Things continued like this and Arson began to wonder after four hours of straight combat, when he was going to run out of mana. Only for the thought to summon a bar in his vision that showed a white energy fluctuate with every orb he shot, in the upper left of his vision.


    ¡°Well that helps, but what about health and stamina,¡± asked Arson to himself. Two more bars popped up at his question. One a dark crimson, which didn¡¯t move, and the other a vibrant white gold, that fluctuated as much as his mana bar. He tied it to his stamina.


    Why his stamina bar moved as much as his more constantly used mana he was unsure and alarmed, as well as for his slightly growing health bar.


    The longer he fought, the longer the crimson bar grew. He couldn¡¯t help but think of how an abundance of life force could also be dangerous and decided to take more risks. Why he correlated having too much life-force with the need to risk his own wellbeing, he assumed was due to being pumped full of raw energy.


    ¡°Bring it, rust bucket!¡± Arson realized he was quickly able to destroy groups of the foes if he closed his eyes and focused on each individual cast of orbs. He was far from rapid fire, but the stream of orbs was enough to bombard groups below him.


    He only opened his eyes in intervals between every three or five shots to aim. After a while both the amount of remnants and nearby fights kept most away from Arson¡¯s heap. So he meditated while he waited and listened.


    When he entered his soul realm, what manifested visually was far different. Orbs like the frozen orbs of lightning flew in random directions all around the sun. The sun¡¯s tendrils would latch on to a random element frozen by the particle ring, and the orb would disappear.


    Then Arson noticed each time a random element was snatched from the air around the sun, another orb of frozen lightning would be created by another of the sun¡¯s tendrils and the frozen particle ring.


    Arson was at a loss as to what he was seeing, but had a sense that some sort of energy conversion occurred with each action the sun took. Then the conversion rate of 100% from enemy experience to stat points flashed through Arson¡¯s mind and he snapped out of his soul realm.


    He immediately opened his status overlay and went to his stat page. Even as he watched, the number increased, steadily and without pause.


    ¡°Am I going to really need this many stats?¡± Arson already had over 100, and the number was still on the rise. Arson merely shrugged and decided to put a point into armor. The prompt that popped up let Arson know immediately, he was going to need every stat he could get his hands on.


    ¡°To put this point in armor, you will need to unlock it first. Would you like to unlock Armor for 1000 stat points? Yes or No?¡± Arson scowled, and jammed the No button mentally.


    ¡°Well ain¡¯t that a socket spraying sparks.¡± He rose to his feet once more and cracked his neck before he rushed down the heap to find a new hill to become king of.


    ¡°Eat sparks!¡±

 Chapter 7: The Most Important Meal

    Arson ate so much food that he wondered how he hadn¡¯t gotten sick. He came back to Jade¡¯s house after the sun had fully risen. He would have come back sooner, but the star filled sunrise filled both him and his enemies with more energy than Arson was able to overcome easily.


    It was very hard for him to continue to focus, cast, and move, while mana thrummed through him. And he couldn¡¯t keep down the enemies that seemed to be able to regenerate from far more damage than normal during this sunrise.


    Arson merely watched his stat counter stop at 899 with a sigh and a sip of his tea. He knew he was not going to be able to unlock armor in a single night no matter how hard he tried.


    He contemplated trying to put more stats into Weapon since he already had it unlocked, but didn¡¯t think more fire power was the answer. It would take time to learn a new ability and would also change the flow of combat before he even knew the basics.


    No, Arson decided to find some form of martial training before he put any more points into Weapon. Maybe I should ask Troy? He nodded to himself in confirmation, and almost rose to his feet, and realized he nor Jade had spoken a single word to one another.


    He¡¯d simply come in. Sat down in a hurry to eat under the weight of a million questions and thoughts, and hadn¡¯t managed a word.


    ¡°Feel better,¡± said the woman as Arson looked at her.


    ¡°Much better, thanks,¡± responded Arson. He took another sip and asked the first question he had after another moment of thought.


    ¡°How dangerous is the dump at night?¡±


    ¡°Very, just depends on where you are located.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t expected a straight forward answer, but the woman hadn¡¯t even stopped eating to speak. Just gave him the flat truth, a feature of her character he hoped he could come to depend on.


    ¡°Can you give me any advice on where the best areas are for someone new to Cultivation?¡±


    ¡°Stay in the green area, until you¡¯ve unlocked all your attributes or whatever you Cultivators call them, then train in the blue areas, never go into the red zones at night, and stay far from the hole.¡± Jade pointed at a map of both the dump and junkyard on the wall. It was color coded by both mana core pattern drop rate, dungeon portal spawn rate, and monster spawn density.


    It took Arson a while to understand the honeycomb pattern all the different colors created. Jade had to specify a few odd details he couldn¡¯t explain himself. All before Jade ended up handing him a watch that she again pulled from thin air.


    ¡°Here is a basic hollow watch I¡¯ll trade it for the orb in your pocket, it has a spacial inventory and a map, I¡¯ve coded details of the areas I have searched, and it will update further if you explore areas I have not, just make sure to turn off the AI functions if they turn on for any reason.¡± Arson frowned as he took the mana core from his pocket. He didn¡¯t like that she knew he had it, but it wasn¡¯t like he was going to keep it anyway.


    ¡°Spacial inventory?¡±


    ¡°Man, you really are an orphan, huh? It¡¯s a backpack, but you only have access to the inside and the bags opening. Think of an item in the bag¡¯s space and it will pop into your hand, want to put something in the bag, and all you have to do is think it, kid. Simple as that,¡± said Jade. Arson looked at the watch in alarm. He¡¯d seen many rich people come and adopt children from the orphanage, and none pulled things out of spacial inventories. Arson took the watch like it was the greatest gift he¡¯d ever received, even though he¡¯d technically bought it. Jade only rolled her eyes as he put it on slowly.


    Arson smiled as the watch changed to fit him. Then it further shifted from a matte black to match the frozen particle sheen of his crown.


    He hadn¡¯t shown the woman his crown yet and only had it out as he worked when it became unbearable not too, as he never knew when Jade would come to check on him.


    It wasn¡¯t that it was unbearable to not have his crown out, but it seemed to make his mind fog over slightly. As if he needed glasses and could see clearly again when the piece of his soul was manifested once more.


    ¡°That white gold suits you young man, you look rather refined.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Are you headed back to the orphanage finally?¡±


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    ¡°Nope, back to work, I plan on leaving in the afternoon to help a friend, but after that I¡¯ll be back for another night on the hunt. Thanks again Jade, your food was fantastic.¡± Arson ran up and hugged the lady before she could stop him and was out the door before she could even wipe the shock from her face.


    Once outside, Arson looked at the makeshift sled. It had taken him an hour and a half to make out of random trash from the dump that morning, and began to take his treasures off the sled.


    Clothes, shoes, Cultivation manuals and more was stacked neatly only to disappear by the second into his new watch.


    He opened the map on the watch, and the device projected a hologram of the area, above the screen in real time, in satellite precision levels of detail.


    ¡°Wow, this is sparking useful.¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t know why, but he wanted to explore the unexplored areas around the dump on the map. They appealed to him far more than any other areas, but Arson had to complete his work for the day first before he could even start to think about the new spaces he¡¯d yet to see.


    He made his way back to the hole at the southern perimeter, and was surprised to realize the hole wasn¡¯t at the center of the dump as he originally assumed.


    ¡°Sparks this place is huge¡­¡± There were 10 more holes of equal or larger sizes spread throughout the rest of the map Arson had access to.


    During his walk to the hole he¡¯d read up on the area through the notes left in the watch by Jade, and found the notes to be a thrill to read rather than a bore. They even included small pictures of landmarks to use to help navigate more easily.


    Arson worked his three hour shift, and then began his mana core hunt. With his memory it was easy to climb a trash heap and find where he¡¯d been the previous night.


    He wanted to prove his theory about the heaps that had the largest concentration of enemies around them. He believed that those would be the heaps he could most likely find mana cores in, but the only way to prove it was to check.


    He found himself once more high up and lucky for him, he could now tell why the dump looked the way it did. Before he wondered why trash was dumped by air drop and why only a handful of people ever worked here at a time.


    Now he understood that the dump of Maelstrom city was a battlefield, and that only made him excited to reach the junkyard. He also wondered if the area had a different keeper.


    He supposed he only knew two land keepers, Almarine and Jade, but maybe Jade owned the junkyard too. The lands touched each other, and job was technically posted for both areas.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just ask her later,¡± said Arson to himself. He followed the path on the map before he realized another thing about the dump.


    There were designated paths through all the heaps, but no one kept the paths clean. Except for the groups of monsters that roamed through the dump in what must have been some sort of patrol patterns.


    ¡°Monsters run through, and kick trash aside, leaving the dump less cluttered, that¡¯s hilarious,¡± said Arson. Not aware of how close to the truth of things he actually was.


    Arson managed to find 3 mana cores in a single heap over the next few hours. He managed to find them by complete obliteration of the heap itself.


    It took him far longer to accomplish as his mana wasn¡¯t being constantly replenished through the secondary features of conductive waters. No mana to drain, no mana to gain.


    He was excited to confirm if it would work on the flesh of a real fang and claw monster, but wasn¡¯t going to rush into anything.


    He packed up the few new items he needed to present his plan to both Jade and anyone else he could get to help him. His watch made things easy to store and even noted it was at 13% of its maximum capacity. He was truly interested in how the spacial enchant worked and added it to a list of things he was working on.


    1. Complete remaining mandatory work hours: 2271.


    2. Find Almarine a birthday present.


    3. Create way to recycle products more efficiently.


    4. Help orphans make more money.


    5. Help Troy find a trainer.


    6. Find a trainer for, crafting, martial forms, and magics.


    7.Clean the dump, and fix the junkyard.


    Arson waved at Jade as he ran by and made his way back into town. Luscious green, surrounded the dump and junkyard, and was weaved seamlessly into the sand rock jungle that was Maelstrom city. It took him hours to make it back in time, but he did and had to make his first meeting quick before he met up with Troy.


    He ran into the orphanage, and made his way to the girls quarters.


    ¡°Hey, has anyone seen Jasmine, I gotta catch her before,¡± said Arson before a groan came down the hall at him.


    ¡°What do you want, brat? Make it quick, it¡¯s my bath time!¡± Arson smiled and rushed down the hall to find exactly who he was looking for.


    ¡°Hey Jasmine, if we could make the money doing all the laundry you all do ourselves, would you come work for me?¡±


    Arson took in the bewildered expression of the black haired, blue eyed teen in front of him in her towel and turned around.


    ¡°Sorry, just excited and have a few plans that could make us eat a lot better around here.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, brat? Let it out or I¡¯m leaving for my soak.¡± Arson smiled and pulled what he thought to be an old dirty jacket.


    When he turned around with what seemed to be a brand new black leather jacket, he froze and so did jasmine.


    ¡°Kid, did you steal a jacket and now are trying to get me to wash it for you, before you sell it or something? Because let me tell you, a few washes ain¡¯t going to make that look even a day old, baby boy.¡±


    His mind raced and Arson could only stare at the coat. It had holes, been shredded and even slightly discolored somehow when he¡¯d found it, but now, perfect refined leather. He took a moment to think before he responded to Jasmine¡¯s frustration.


    ¡°Well, I have to rethink my plans after a recent development, but what if I secured a place, plenty of cleaning equipment, I supply the cleaning supplies, and pay you far above the orphan salary, could you gather a few of your people and run a laundry for me?¡±


    ¡°How much above the orphan pay, I already make 5k credits a day, if you can¡¯t beat that I don¡¯t want anything to do with it,¡± said Jasmine as she tried to brush pass Arson, only for him to let her pass as he responded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you 5k for materials, 25k as a bonus for you to gather people and pay you 10k a shift if you can manage to take any of your larger contacts from the city as you leave, offer them the same level of quality but we will only charge 95% of what they are currently paying?¡± Jasmine froze.


    ¡°Yeah right, kid, pay up front then,¡± said Jasmine with a playful wave of her flatscreen. Arson flicked through his watch, and shot the digital invoice he¡¯d worked out on his walk back and the girl froze in the doorway. Then took an awkward step back, and slowly closed the door.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t stealing the equipment, are you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t going to cross any legal lines, all legal work?¡±


    ¡°The laundry will be a hundred percent legitimate.¡±


    She looked back at him and smiled. He smiled back and knew that he had a lot of work to do if her smile meant what he thought it did?


    ¡°So are you in?¡± Jasmine looked at her handheld flatscreen and then back to Arson.


    ¡°As soon as you finalize the payment.¡±

 Chapter 8: Momentum

    ¡°So, what do you got for me, kid?¡± Arson stared down the opponents across the ring from Troy. He read their lips and grimaced. Their plans would probably work against Troy if she wasn¡¯t able to close the distance and Arson found trouble being able to tell his roommate.


    ¡°Spit it out, kid. Your face looks like you need to use the bathroom.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re going to set the entire stage on fire, from the start. You got any movement abilities?¡± Troy looked at the small circular stage and then shared Arson¡¯s grimace.


    ¡°Yeah, but I can¡¯t use it very well, and if I miss I¡¯m probably going to fly out of the ring.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t use it how, ¡®cause that dude looks like he is ready, like all the way ready, for all the smoke,¡± said Arson. He could feel the heat roll off the young man¡¯s body even across the distance that separated them and wondered how his coach could bare to stand next to him.


    ¡°Like my body fills with light and I move way too fast to be able to tell what direction I am moving at all, it¡¯s terrible,¡± said Troy. Arson shrugged.


    ¡°You used that cool looking hard light clone of yourself just fine, are you telling me you can flood that thing with all your energy recklessly in a fight and it doesn¡¯t explode?¡±


    ¡°No, of course I stop when it¡¯s formed densely enough to cause damage.¡±


    ¡°Ok, so what¡¯s the issue, don¡¯t let your body fill with light completely and slowly speed up until you are moving fast enough that you can still control it.¡±


    ¡°Ok, that actually does sound like it would work, but I don¡¯t have time to test something like that, the match is going to start in ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like you have time to practice and you¡¯re making excuses,¡± said Arson with a chuckle. He pointed at the open space in the ring and smiled.


    ¡°I got a new attack that could burn the skin off your body if you want to turn up the intensity a little?¡±


    Arson had been playing, but now that they¡¯d gotten the judge to put the private bubble around the ring for their practice, he was truly engaged. He couldn¡¯t hit Troy at all.


    He¡¯d nearly gotten her in the first 60 seconds. Then her skin started to glow, and she began to blur in his vision. Arson only had 100 shots before he ran out of mana, and had increased his speed slightly since he¡¯d first gained the skill.


    Regardless, Troy became less and less jerky in her movements as Arson unloaded orb after orb.


    Arson hadn¡¯t realized how serious they¡¯d gotten until the dome disappeared and they didn¡¯t stop for a second. Even the announcer stopped his introduction to watch as Arson¡¯s arms pumped with every shot. He roared and finally Troy stopped and caught his final orb.


    He was happy to see that the attack drank some of her mana and restored his own, and also didn¡¯t damage her due to the light around her skin.


    ¡°Thanks buddy, I think I may have this now.¡± Arson smiled at her and bowed before he left the ring. He noted the alarmed faces of Troy¡¯s opponent and coach.


    Arson knew Troy was fast and known to be so, but she¡¯d just entered a whole new category of speed, she was now a feather weight. She¡¯d probably even need to get her fighting license changed if she could clock over a hundred mile an hour 30 yard dash, which Arson had zero doubts about her doing.


    ¡°Maybe I should invite her to come hunting for mana cores with me at night,¡± mumbled Arson to himself. Yet, his words still felt loud. The room¡¯s atmosphere changed drastically. Not only did they look at Troy strangely, Arson now gained a few odd looks himself.


    ¡°Are these some noble brats slumming it to get names for themselves?¡± Arson looked over his shoulder at the words that came from behind him in the crowd.


    ¡°That kid had a crown, I swear I saw it.¡± Arson rolled his eyes and shook his head. He hadn¡¯t meant for his crown to show, but it had. Troy fired him up, and it came out, and he knew it would be hard to stop something like that.


    His core was a natural part of him. He wondered if maybe when that core was fully formed if maybe it would be more easily contained, but for now it wanted to be free, even if he felt shame when he looked at it.


    ¡°Troy and I are from Maelstrom orphanage, both raised from birth, all you¡¯re seeing is my friend¡¯s hard work, don¡¯t take that from her, celebrate her greatness.¡± Arson didn¡¯t look back, but the murmurs told him he¡¯d made his point. So many from the bottom were quick to pronounce that if they had what a more privileged individual had, they would be great. Arson knew the lie in those words.


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    ¡°Greatness yields for nothing or no one.¡± The quote from Almarine rang true in his mind, heart and he felt like it made his soul brighten.


    Then the fight began and Arson smiled. It was the easiest 25k he¡¯d made in his life so far. The match didn¡¯t last more than a handful of seconds and Arson felt bad for the kid that fought Troy.


    The bell rang and the boy was lifted off the ground by a kick to the stomach that landed before the bell¡¯s hum could disperse from the air.


    Troy didn¡¯t give him any reprieve as she ran up his body and used him as a launch pad. Once airborne, two copies of herself were summoned as she hooted with excitement on her descent.


    The boy exploded with fire, but was so delirious that he missed Troy entirely.


    The ring was saturated in flames and Troy heel-dropped the young man three times, one after the other. She stood among the flames and smiled before she walked off stage. The judge didn¡¯t count, as the young man¡¯s coach had thrown in the towel before the heel drops had even occurred.


    ¡°Hey kid, dinner on me tonight, we got some things to talk about!¡±


    It took Arson far longer than he wanted it to, to convince Troy that he needed her to come to the dump with him, but after his third promise of a feast, she relented.


    They made the hours long trek to the dump and Arson was pleased to run into Jasmine and two of the other orphans Arson didn¡¯t know the names of.


    ¡°They¡¯re with me, but the twins don¡¯t talk, so I will let them warm up to you, especially if you¡¯re going to be their boss, give them time and they will open up.¡± Arson nodded and waved at the boy and girl behind Jasmine, while she introduced herself to Troy.


    The group made it to Jade¡¯s and another round of introductions came and went.


    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t make a habit of bringing all your friends for every meal without a heads up in the future, young man.¡± Arson shrugged and handed over the three mana cores he found earlier.


    ¡°There is normally far more than either one of us could eat, so I figured you would¡¯t mind,¡± said Arson as Jade transferred 150k credits to him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind, I will just need to prepare more, that¡¯s all. You and that Troy girl seem to have huge appetites.¡±


    ¡°Sorry ma¡¯am, Arson did some intense training with me before my own professional fight a few hours ago and apparently my new ability makes me really hungry.¡±


    ¡°It is not a problem, child. Arson just needs to send me a message before we have company is all, come now, follow follow,¡± said Jade. They entered the warehouse and to Arson¡¯s surprise a different house was summoned by Jade and they entered a manor a quarter size of the orphanage.


    ¡°Your new boss is a Keeper?¡± Arson could tell Jasmine was shocked, as was Troy.


    ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t Mr. Kim from the laundry a Keeper,¡±asked Arson.


    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯ve never actually met him,¡± said Jasmine in complete shock.


    Arson didn¡¯t know the significance of a Keeper, just that they were important figures. They owned land, gave jobs, and cut pay checks. Beyond that, Arson was clueless as to what they were capable of.


    The group ate and learned about one another. The twins stayed silent, but ate their fill, which made Arson happy.


    ¡°How much do we owe you for the meal, Ms. Jade?¡± asked Troy.


    ¡°Yeah, I was going to ask the same,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°You would have to ask Arson, this is his daily food budget you are all enjoying,¡± said Jade. The two older girls shared a look, and Arson would have to ask one of them later what he missed.


    ¡°Speaking of which, young man, are you going to tell us finally why we are all here?¡± Arson looked at Jade and nodded.


    ¡°Yes, but before I do, I have to ask you a question.¡± Jade nodded at Arson to continue and he did so.


    ¡°Why was a practically destroyed jacket, made whole again after I left it in my watches inventory?¡±


    ¡°The auto repair function of the spacial enchantment, it is very rare and if I didn¡¯t have many of those watches from my years of scavenging I would probably still be wearing it, why?¡± Arson looked at his watch and gulped. He¡¯d been gifted the watch, but hadn¡¯t known its real value. He¡¯d cherished it as if it were worth as much as priceless artwork, but to know that it was worth as much as priceless artwork was entirely different.


    ¡°Is there anyway that we can recreate this function on a larger scale?¡±


    ¡°What do you have planned, kid,¡± asked Jasmine. She felt she was quickly aware of what his plans were, at least on the surface.


    ¡°Ok, Jade, if you let me use the warehouse, I want to open a shop, a shop full of the goods that we restore from the dump, originally I was going to have the orphans use their individual skills and abilities to restore the items as best we could, but if we can create a form of restoration system using the spacial enchantment, we may be able to do far more than I even originally had planned.¡±


    The group shared a look and Arson could tell he had them interested. Even the twins were on the edges of their seats, although they remained silent. Jasmine bit her nails in excitement, and even Troy bounced her leg like a child pumped full of sugar.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯d have to move my manor, and you¡¯d probably need some way of attracting customers once you''re in full swing, but as for the enchantment, I was never good at the crafting aspects of Uni-Vare, but I may have a way that you could learn.¡± Arson could feel a sense of apprehension in Jade¡¯s normally confident voice that made Arson worry he¡¯d overstepped.


    ¡°Fix your face kid, it¡¯s just that if I do this, you will have access to knowledge that most Cultivators around your age, or even millenniums older than you would kill for, I don¡¯t know how I would feel about anyone as young as you having that kind of access to information networks, especially Cultivation based ones.¡±


    ¡°What about under your supervision, I only use the network thing you show me when you¡¯re around?¡± Arson didn¡¯t want to miss his opportunity, and he knew this was his chance, so he pushed.


    ¡°You and your friends bring me a dozen cores a week as payment for the warehouse and you have a deal, as long as you are always supervised when you use the Sovereign System app on your watch, I will give you access and let you rent the warehouse space.¡± Arson had seen the app Jade spoke about, but ignored it as he was clueless as to its use. He was glad he hadn¡¯t known it was a database, or he would have wasted a lot of his own time in an attempt to open it.


    ¡°Do the four I sold you so far this week count?¡± asked Arson. He wanted to get started as soon as possible, but Troy cut him off.


    ¡°You¡¯re stretching it Arson, she¡¯s doing a huge favor for you already. Let¡¯s bring her the cores and make a killing after a little hard work,¡± said Troy. The others nodded and Jade smiled.


    ¡°You can¡¯t blame your young leader for wanting to push the boundaries as far as he can. No person knows their limits without a certain level of inner fearlessness.¡±


    The rest of the meal was casual. They all ate their fill and Jasmine took the twins home shortly after they were all done.


    They¡¯d worked out the majority of their plans to begin and Arson was ready for a long night. Except this time, Troy and he would have a blast in a search for mana cores, and slightly damaged washing machines.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long night¡­¡±

 Chapter 9: Recipes for Success

    ¡°This map is super detailed,¡± said Troy, as they made their separate ways to their destinations. Arson¡¯s watch had a walkie-talkie function and he and Troy used it in tandem with her own flatscreen to communicate.


    ¡°Stay in that zone and you should be good, it¡¯s marked as green and from what I remember there was a lot of large machinery in that area.¡±


    ¡°Well, it is the edge of the junkyard dude, I just hope the equipment we are looking for is there.¡±


    ¡°Trust me it will be. The problem isn¡¯t the equipment, it¡¯s getting it to work, we will need plenty of washing machines until I figure out the spacial enchantments.¡±


    Arson found his way to the edge of the section he¡¯d been at last night, and positioned himself at the edge of the blue zone.


    He needed to know why Jade, felt he would need all his stats unlocked to enter a blue zone. He didn¡¯t want to lose his life, but he did need to understand what he needed to be wary of.


    Arson hated it about himself, but fear needed to be experienced to be justified. Yes, the stove is hot, but how do you know until you touch it? Yes, the second floor is high up, but what teaches you not to jump, more than the fall?


    Arson couldn¡¯t fear something he¡¯d never seen or heard, or even had a chance to experience first hand. He refused.


    ¡°So what do we do now, wait until sundown?¡± Arson lifted his watch as he looked around.


    ¡°Yes, I think we have around 20 minutes before we see action.¡±


    The two waited but before Arson knew it he was in a full sprint toward Troy. Her screams of fear made him instantly regret everything. He could have and should have warned her better.


    ¡°What the sparks¡­¡± Arson couldn¡¯t say much more than that.


    He¡¯d arrived at Troy¡¯s marker on his map to find the young woman terrified, yet¡­ deadly.


    Troy had become a blur of light in the dark of the set sun. She kicked and punched with authority, and made herself a danger to be around.


    ¡°Troy, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m killing all the sparking demons, who brings a girl into this kind of place, I thought you liked me, are we not friends!¡±


    ¡°Calm down, its just monsters, and you realize you''re getting stats and experience for this right?¡±


    Troy looked away for a moment, then back at Arson. Her gaze went distant momentarily, before her eyes widened.


    ¡°So much XP, what the hell is this place?¡±


    Arson laughed and summoned two orbs of conductive waters. He blasted the incoming group of robots and Troy blurred. Her every movement left streaks through the dark of night.


    ¡°Are you ok now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah I guess, but you could have warned me!¡±


    ¡°Nope, Jade didn¡¯t tell me, and it didn¡¯t feel right to tell you, I think it¡¯s a rite of passage, you don¡¯t flee for your life, and you get to stay,¡± screamed Arson over the violence with a laugh.


    ¡°You¡¯re a brat and you know it!¡±


    They destroyed monsters in the green zones for the majority of the night, up until Arson couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He needed to know why the small blue circles were so abundant, and why Jade felt he needed all of his attributes unlocked to enter them.


    ¡°Hey Troy, follow me I need to check this out before we head back for breakfast!¡±


    Arson ran toward the nearest blue zone on the map and froze when he got to the edge of the area. There was a single set of living armor in an open clearing. Arson put up his arm to stop Troy as she tried to walk pass him, but she moved far too fast now for the attempt to work.


    ¡°Hey wait,¡± was all Arson managed to say before the Armor charged them both, and Arson got his first prompt of the day.


    ¡°7th Style: Error, missing Styles 1-6, retreat recommended, defeat the master of the 7th Omni form¡¯s armor to gain access to new techniques.¡±


    ¡°Troy, we need to run!¡±


    Arson fired at the armor as it closed the distance. Troy managed to glance at him before the Armor vanished.


    By the time Arson was able to see the armor again, both he and Troy had been flung in different directions. In one smooth motion the armor had kicked Troy, and punched him simultaneously.


    Troy managed to land on her feet, and slid off-balanced for a few dozen meters. Arson smashed face-first into a nearby trash heap.


    His vision went blurry for a moment and he felt more than half of his life-force leave his body. By the time Arson got out of the heap Troy had already reengaged.


    Arson was shocked by the fight. Troy wasn¡¯t able to hit her opponent, and was struck often, and hard, but she remained upright.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, kid. I need your help!¡±


    Arson shook his head to clear his vision and focus. He charged two orbs and smashed them together, but kept going until the single two handed orb was almost the size of an award winning watermelon.


    ¡°Duck, woman!¡± Arson fired and the orb streaked through the air faster than any other orb he¡¯d fired yet. Troy dropped prone and covered her head, and the armor tried to dodge. Only¡­


    Boom!


    The orb snapped the remainder of the distance between it and the armor like a spark of lightning. Arson wondered if he somehow magnetized the orb, but he doubted there was a way for him to make his attack seek out mana, or could he?


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Arson felt good about his attack when it landed. It sent the armor through the air and into a trash heap, which made Arson feel he¡¯d gotten revenge on the thing that made him eat garbage.


    Then it rose out of the heap undamaged, and without using its hands and he yelled for another retreat. Troy blurred and even picked Arson up as she ran out of the zone with him over her shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back for you!¡± Arson glared at the armor in the distance, but then he heard a laugh from the thing that sent chills down his spine, and he slightly rethought his declaration.


    ¡°Later¡­ much later¡­,¡± mumbled Arson to himself.


    ¡°You¡¯re psycho if you think we are going anywhere near that place again,¡± said Troy. Arson hadn¡¯t realized how fast they moved until she¡¯d spoken and her voice came out slightly muffled by the wind.


    ¡°Says the girl who charged pass me to fight,¡± Arson said as he struggled with discomfort on her shoulder.


    Troy dodged opponents easily, and made their return time much faster than Arson could have pulled off alone. Even at a dead sprint and seemingly endless energy stores.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± said Troy after a time.


    ¡°For what,¡± said Arson. He¡¯d only given her grief as a joke, but his tone must have shifted the delivered message in her eyes. It was something Arson knew he needed to work on, so he spoke up as they came to a complete stop.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, I was only kidding about you charging in, it¡¯s not like I wasn¡¯t seconds from firing off on the thing myself, don¡¯t worry about it, I found mana cores, and have almost enough to unlock my second and maybe even my third attribute,¡± said Arson. Troy smiled and looked around as the sun managed to rise.


    ¡°Well, with the laundry machines we found, you should be able to start with Jasmine soon, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we still have to get them fixed, or figure out if the spacial enchantment will work on them or not, but I doubt it will.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that, it seemed to work on the few items you tested last night?¡±


    ¡°Yeah but all of those items were small, and are all made of a single material, I kept it super basic, but I am unsure about how more complicated equipment may work, or if it will at all.¡± Troy just nodded at first, until she spoke up again when something must have triggered a thought in her mind.


    ¡°Hey, did you get a weird notification when we entered the green zone about Styles?¡± It was Arson¡¯s turn to nod.


    ¡°Any clue what that is about,¡± asked Troy. Arson shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m about to ask Jade, and you know you are more than welcome to stay for breakfast,¡± said Arson. The girl¡¯s stomach rumbled, and they found themselves eating breakfast with the same group.


    ¡°So what happened,¡± Arson asked Jasmine, as he handed the cores from the previous night over to Jade discreetly under the table. He needed to know how much she¡¯d give him for his haul before he could move their plans any further, but knew that his gains should remain private.


    He¡¯d been stolen from and had stolen to survive in the orphanage. He no longer would since he¡¯d been given other options, but knew the skills well.


    Since he didn¡¯t know the twins, Jasmine, or even Troy all that well, he didn¡¯t know how much of those same practices they themselves used. He¡¯d keep their earnings as secret as possible.


    His wants weren¡¯t for wealth anyway. The orphans would most likely gain the most value from what he earned in the end.


    ¡°We pulled a city contract, no grudge or gripe from Mr. Kim. He has dozens of contracts he doesn¡¯t want, and even took them on our behalf, and delivered them to us for the low price of 100k, and he said we can pay him back when something in the contract reaches it¡¯s maximum interest rate, whatever that means,¡± said Jasmine in-between bites. Arson and Jade shared a look, and the mirrored alarm in their eyes, made them both burst into laughter.


    ¡°What, what¡¯s, so funny,¡± asked Troy. Jasmine looked confused, and so did the twins and Troy.


    ¡°We won¡¯t be letting any interest rate rise anywhere, just make sure there aren¡¯t any penalties in the contract for paying the total amount before a certain date, or in full, otherwise,¡± said Arson as he looked at his new 375k balance a moment before he invoiced her enough money to nearly faint.


    ¡°Kid, what are you doing in the dump that has you throwing around this kind of money,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°Nothing that you need to worry about. Pretty sure you guys are safe in the warehouse, which I have been meaning to ask you about. Jade, wait no. Jasmine, why are you guys here if you have a contract, and why did we pay to have it brought here,¡± asked Arson.


    ¡°I told them to,¡± said Jade. He looked to her and then waited for an answer, only to have her sigh.


    ¡°I asked you if I could use the warehouse, but you never really gave me an answer, and I do get the vibe that you don¡¯t necessarily want a lot of people here to bother you, but I have a plan for that too,¡± said Arson before Jade cut in.


    ¡°It is ok, kid, I just have the oddest feeling that with that watch on your wrist you will actually achieve whatever insane plan you have,¡± said Jade. Arson looked at the watch he now knew he didn¡¯t want to part with, and back at Jade with more questions in his eyes.


    He took off the watch and slid it across the table to Jade. The item pulsed with energy, and seemed to hum the farther it got away from him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t deserve something so valuable, nor do I want my achievements to be determined by the gift of someone much more powerful than me,¡± said Arson. He smiled as Jade smiled.


    ¡°You are the 11th and final owner of that watch Arson, it can¡¯t be passed on, or returned, it is actually more of a danger for it to not be on your wrist at this point.¡± Jade the slid the watch back over to Arson, and he frowned as he put it back on.


    ¡°Why would you give it to me,¡± asked Arson.


    ¡°Well, to be honest it was a fluke, I test every new worker I have as a piece of a promise I made and you just so happen to be the one the watch worked for, but I didn¡¯t say what I said to discourage you, I only said it because of the faith I¡¯m quickly coming to have in you Arson. I wish I didn¡¯t need all this, but it seems as you needed a place to grow, I needed something to stir me up,¡± said Jade.


    ¡°Aww, that¡¯s the sweetest thing I think I have ever heard,¡± said Jasmine. Arson scowled at her, and everyone laughed. Even the twins, Arson noted.


    The boy and girl hadn¡¯t taken their eyes off him since they¡¯d gotten back and he¡¯d wondered what had changed.


    ¡°So is anyone going to tell Troy and me what happened while we were out?¡± It was time for Jasmine and Jade to share a look before the older woman¡¯s smile prompted Jasmine to explain.


    ¡°Jade already has washing machines and all kinds of other cleaning equipment and supplies, the stuff may not work longterm if we take on more contracts, but she has given us a more than fair price for rental, I hope,¡± said Jasmine with a glance at Troy, Arson and even Jade for confirmation. Arson laughed when Troy shrugged.


    ¡°I let the kid deal with the money stuff, if I win my first contract fight next week I¡¯ll be paid my first million credits thanks to him, so I¡¯m going to say as my new manager, he¡¯s the one to work out the numbers,¡± said Troy with a point in his direction.


    ¡°Manager huh, sounds nice, how much can you afford to pay me per fight, as you can see my time is very valuable,¡± said Arson with a laugh, but he was the only one to do so.


    ¡°It was a joke, I¡¯m not that busy yet, I still haven¡¯t even managed to pick what I want to do as a profession, nor found a trainer for¡­¡± Arson trailed off and looked at Troy before he remembered the Armor he¡¯d lost to. The same armor that left his entire chest bruised and still in intense pain. It throbbed as he thought about it, let alone attempted to rub the area.


    ¡°Jade, what are the Styles of Omni?¡±


    ¡°By that bruise on your neck there I can tell you didn¡¯t listen to me, which Style did you run into?¡±


    ¡°Style 7, and you didn¡¯t tell us how many Styles there were?¡±


    ¡°There are 21 Styles in the Styles of Omni, which are considered to be the refined movements of all hand to hand martial forms, then there is the 17 Martial Weapons of Omni, the 13 Spirit Forms of Omni, the 7 Magical Kingdoms of Uni-Vare, 3 Constructs of Omnipotent will, and finally the Form of Omni.¡± Every face in the room scrunched at Jades words and Arson wasn¡¯t the only one with questions. Even the twins bombarded Jade with inquiries and the woman seemed to happily teach them what she knew.


    Arson knew that most Keepers weren¡¯t like Jade, but it was probably the primary reason he didn¡¯t plan on work elsewhere. He had a teacher in Jade, something most wouldn¡¯t dare to be in Maelstrom for free.


    Jade explained that Omni, or the will of all things, was the legacy left behind by a family known for Cultivation, and the creation of Ikarus, the first and last wonder of Uni-Vare.


    This family is said to still exist, but as to where they are and what they are doing, that is unknown. Jade further explained that it is believed that most of their members have ascended pass even the level known as godhood, and become natural forces of Uni-Vare itself.


    The Styles began at 1 with mixed martial arts and ended at 21 with a Style that held movements that disrupted time and space through the use of different elements. Arson took in all the information and then looked at Jade once more and remembered the star that lit in his memory when he first met the woman.


    After a while Arson excused himself and left the others to talk and eat while he worked on his stats. After he made his way outside and into a meditative pose, he entered his soul realm.


    ¡°Sparking heaven fire what the¡­¡± The inside of his soul realm was active. Elements of so many varieties flew within his soul realm he lost count as they were converted dozens at a time.


    He exited and smiled as he brought up his status overlay, and looked at his available stat counter.


    ¡°Available stats: 2562, and counting.¡± The error he got when he tried to unlock his armor stat pissed him off, and his system stat gave him the same response.


    ¡°What the sparks does it mean not enough cores!¡± Arson heard Jade laugh from nearby and he tried not to roll his eyes. Then he remembered his incomplete cores and realized his odd three cores, and three stat attributes were probably connected somehow.


    With that in mind he again entered his soul realm. It took him far longer to access what he¡¯d originally assumed to be a line of power in the chaos of the stat conversion, but the single cord of light still remained.


    For whatever reason he felt the point to be the northern most point of the sphere that formed his inner sun, and the line went directly up from there.


    He followed the line through his mental space to the point that his sun became so small he could no longer see it within his soul space which he found filled him with an odd fear. A fear that made him angry as he didn¡¯t understand why he felt fear as he continued on, but he did.


    It was as if the representation of his soul made him experience the void of space. The distance between stars made real to Arson as he followed an unknown path to experience something he never had before, finally he was confronted by a white light that seemed to bleach space itself and a prompt appeared.


    ¡°Unlock soul node, 1500 stat points, minimum, 10k maximum, make first attempt now, 26% chance of success, Yes/No.¡± Arson scoffed at the price and knew he had a lot of work ahead of him. He was excited to see what that would entail, but knew he wanted the best chance for this to work, and exited his soul realm.


    Arson then took the time to find what he needed for the following night, and began to prepare. He wanted to be able to have everything ready for him and Troy to work that night. After he was done, he began to meditate, and see if he could focus his body on healing the damage that had been done to his chest.


    He didn¡¯t wake up, until the following morning.

 Chapter 10: Stats and Credits

    Arson realized he was wrong. He didn¡¯t have time. He¡¯d healed his wound completely, and wounded himself again the same night.


    The much more grievous wound still only took a day to heal, and Arson realized healing fast was nice, but he was expected to be places and do things at certain times now.


    He¡¯d gotten two infractions against him his first week already, as, he¡¯d missed two shifts to heal himself.


    Jade had no choice and shrugged when she showed them to him. She wasn¡¯t going to fire him, but they did go against his public record.


    Jade only showed them to him because they were not only automatically filed if his shovel didn¡¯t record weight each day, the notices were also easily sent via holo-watch.


    The city bothered her, so she in return glared at him in a way that made him feel guilty. He¡¯d been glared at by many and not cared, even Almarine, yet no face twisted him up like hers did. He didn¡¯t want to let her down, and he was figuratively ahead in hours by a lot.


    Arson thought for a moment to himself about why the CityNation of Maelstrom would even bother her with a complaint about her single worker, but quickly realized that as a Keeper she was wealthy beyond belief and a Cultivator¡¯s government did anything to pinch pennies from anyone.


    Ahead of hours or not, no reason felt justified under Jade¡¯s displeased glare, so he stated none. Only that he would improve.


    He did improve, drastically, over the following days. His knowledge grew, and after a three day hunt, he and Troy had finally found it.


    ¡°The valley of the first, boo yah!¡± Troy almost ran in again and then froze just outside with a look at Arson.


    ¡°I know what you said, but I think we should do this one together,¡± said Troy. Arson shook his head.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m going to look at the nearby ones, and see if we might be lucky and find more beginner based armors, I won¡¯t enter the ones Jade told us not too, but I¡¯ll definitely mark them on the joint map for us.¡± Troy nodded and Arson was off. He wanted to save the excitement of the first valley¡¯s teachings for when he was alone. Not only because he knew he was going to make a fool of himself, but because he didn¡¯t want to immolate his friend.


    He¡¯d already been tainted by the vision of the SunStorm Sovereign, and begun to Spartan-kick his opponents when the moment called for it. Which was all the time. And had gotten him injured. He began to try to heal himself while he stayed conscious, and failed. Which got him another infraction.


    Three days later he found himself in front of the area within the dump he¡¯d hoped to find, and it was close to the valley of the first style, yet much further than even the valley was from the warehouse.


    Before he entered the first magical domain, he marked it on the map and checked his forgotten stat page. He¡¯d pushed it to the back of his mind once he realized everything within his own system of Cultivation seemed to be a lot more expensive than normal.


    ¡°Available stat points: 15777.¡± He froze and wondered if he should turn back and try to complete another core before he entered his own first trial, but then realized there would probably be a cost. Closed the page, and entered the area.


    ¡°You have entered the Dominion of Elements: Storm affinities recognized, beginning step 1 tutorial.¡±


    As Arson entered there were 11 wands that floated in the air, before faceless men and women formed around them. With the wands being the centermost point of their bodies, the magical instruments could no longer be seen once the forms were complete.


    Then for the first time Arson saw tags above the heads of his potential enemies¡­ or was it teachers?


    ¡°Ok, so how do we begin,¡± said as he read over the names.


    There was one for, fire, water, air, earth, nature, light, dark, gravity, and three he didn¡¯t have names for, so he assumed neither did his system. One of the symbols was of a circular device with 12 runes on it, and two arms that seemed to spin out of sync, and even went in different directions for an unknown reason.


    Another symbol was a metallic orb, and the final was of an odd white energy that twisted strangely. All while it attempted to either straighten or turn into a sphere before it formed a twisted symbol that looked like and hourglass to Arson.


    Arson was surprised as all the figures stepped forward to be chosen from, and since he didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d only be able to choose one he chose the one with the hourglass like symbol as it was most foreign to him, and a prompt appeared.


    ¡°Arcane matter manipulation. To understand the art of creation itself, the seven basic elements should be known beforehand, shall you continue? Yes/No.¡±


    Arson smiled and clicked No before he clicked Fire.


    ¡°Fire. This element is by far the most understood, but that will change in time as all things do. Begin? Yes/No.¡± Arson, this time selected yes and was shocked when the first figure stepped forward and spoke.


    ¡°You are young, are you sure you would like to begin the process of teaching the body to understand flames is a pain filled path?¡± Arson nodded and the figure raised her hands. Arson did the same, unprepared for what was next. He didn¡¯t know if he should mirror the woman or not, then he heard a laugh come from the figure that made him weary to his core.


    A wave of flames was released in his direction. In a panic he shot at the wave with conductive waters. Two orbs pressed into one in a flash before Arson shot his projectile straight ahead into flames.


    The orb detonated and blew Arson off his feet. His body still somehow managed to be drenched in flames as he flew free of the area.


    When he woke up, everything hurt, and Troy stood over him. Arson saw flashes of a new affliction within the borders of his overlay called flame poison, and groaned in pain.


    ¡°Thank the Maiden¡¯s Light,¡± started Troy. Arson was glad to know she cared about him. He knew she didn¡¯t have to stick around him, or let him follow her around now that she was a more respected fighter, and loved that she didn¡¯t change.


    ¡°If I would have been the only one to get my rear handed to me I would have been annoyed, this place is great for sure¡­ still a death trap¡­¡± Arson burst into laughter as he took the girl in completely. She did have a black eye and a lot of bruises, but Troy¡¯s increased healing would take care of the damage in a few hours.


    ¡°I gotta go to work before I can rest,¡± said Arson. It took him a while to get to his feet. Longer than normal to get to the hole, and 6 hours to complete his regular 1 hours worth of work.


    Every inch of his body hurt, but not when he pushed himself to move. So six hours turned from 12 into 18, and he finally began to feel better.


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    He wasn¡¯t healed at all. In fact all of the stacks of flame poison still remained, he¡¯d just managed to put the pain into the background of his mind through pure focus.


    ¡°You are still out here, do you not sleep dude,¡± Troy returned and Arson smiled.


    ¡°No actually, not since my core partially formed. The closest thing to sleep I have been able to achieve is the coma like state my body reaches when I heal myself.¡±


    ¡°Damn, you¡¯re lucky dude, if it wasn¡¯t for the weird energies that fill this place I wouldn¡¯t be able to train here at all. I charge up in the sun, and even during the beginning of my fighting career, had to pick days of the week to charge up in the daytime.¡±


    ¡°My body seems to love both the light of the sun and even more so the stars above us now, during sunrise sometimes, I feel invincible.¡±


    ¡°Well, Jade says you have to stop and come check on your people over a meal.¡± Arson nodded and found himself ready for the run back after only a few moments of being at rest.


    Troy slowed down of course to chat with Arson as they ran, but not by as much as she normally did. Arson brushed passed it when she made note of it, but not when Jade noted their quick return as well.


    ¡°Yeah, I suppose, Troy said I¡¯m moving a bit more quickly, but I haven¡¯t noticed anything different.¡±


    ¡°Gradual growth is often missed kid,¡± said Jade in the middle of bites to eat.


    They spoke more on it as they ate and Arson learned a lot about the body and even asked about Flame poisoning. Jade¡¯s smile filled Arson with fear when it didn¡¯t touch her eyes as it normally did, and he knew that was her true smile. The smile of a person powerful enough to snuff out a continent, a Keeper.


    ¡°All elements external to blood will poison the body, the more quickly the poison is absorbed, the more in tune with that element you are, so trust me the fact that your stacks haven¡¯t lowered is a good thing, I recommend that you find your most unaligned elements first, it will maximize the pain, but also the reward, as well as give you more time to form your foundation, You can only go through resistance training once, and that will form the pillars your power will stand upon for Cultivation within your body.¡±


    ¡°Why my most unaligned first?¡±


    ¡°The elements will be processed in order of saturation, so you want to stack the most difficult to process underneath the most easily processed, that way you can stuff as many elements into your body at a time as possible, which will allow for maximum saturation and the ability to both sense, and manifest more elements, these serve as the base for all elements in all of Uni-Vare.¡±


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t everyone do that like big brother Arson,¡± asked the twins simultaneously to Jade.


    ¡°For many reasons, but mostly they reach a pain threshold they can¡¯t manage and quit long before they touch every base element necessary for a direct connection to Uni-Vare to be formed.¡±


    Arson planned on doing exactly as Jade recommended, and was now grateful for both the pain that he used to focus as he sat and spoke with his¡­ friends. He still didn¡¯t know the names of the twins, but he never had to address them, they were seemingly enthralled by his every move or word.


    Wait, when did they start calling me big brother. Aren¡¯t they both teenagers?


    Arson rose with Troy from the table after Jasmine gave him a status report on the contract with Mr Kim. Arson was pleased to know that everything was going well, and made note that he needed to check on the equipment he had stored away in his storage.


    He hoped they were fixed and if they were, he needed to find a way to quickly unlock his profession. From what he gathered when he had the ability to do so a new window in his overlay would become available and he¡¯d have to choose.


    He wanted to be able to craft things like his holo-watch, spacial inventories, and more. So he hoped for a tinkerer profession with maybe an undiscovered magical tie to runes and enchantments. Not that he knew something like that was even possible.


    Still he daydreamed as he and Troy decided on whether or not to stick together, or go it alone again. Once Arson informed her that he wanted to attempt another element before he began to stat grind for the night, she decided to follow him and make sure he didn¡¯t die.


    Arson once again found himself in front of 11 men and women, who all seemed eager to inflict potentiallyobscene tortures.


    Unlike the time before Arson was only greeted by 10 of the wands. He expected this from what Jade told him would happen, none would truly train him in magic until his foundation was formed completely. So Arson made his second decision.


    ¡°Earth is known to all, but respected by a rare few, shall you gain understanding as to why earthen might is nearly unrivaled? Yes/No.¡±


    Arson chose yes, and was nearly immediately submerged into a quicksand that formed underneath his feet.


    He sunk so quickly that his arms couldn¡¯t move by the time Troy realized what had happened.


    In a panic after his hands went into the ground, and he was forced to raise his chin as his face nearly went under, Arson flooded the ground with conductive waters.


    He thought that maybe it would form a pool, and allow for him to swim out, but instead the ground solidified near immediately. Which left him locked in place as the earthen mana restricted his movements further in a vice grip of power.


    Then came Troy¡¯s laughter and Arson grumbled in annoyance. He couldn¡¯t move at all and the earthen stacks of mana only intensified the pain as he gained the same 9 stacks of poison his fire had given him, only in the earthen variety.


    ¡°Get me the sparks out of here!¡±


    It took a couple hours, but Arson escaped with Troy¡¯s help. They spent the rest of the night with Arson¡¯s rage at being swallowed by the ground and almost dying, by an utter annihilation of the nearby monsters in the area.


    Arson closed in on 20 thousand stat points and picked up the pace half way through the night.


    Troy noticed Arson pick up the pace and blurred around him to match his increased rate. The two became like a vortex fueled by explosions and light. Arson covered Troy¡¯s back and she guarded their perimeter like a sentinel.


    ¡°Should we go into a harder green zone?¡± Arson only shook his head as he spartan-kicked a robot off the top of a trash heap and shot it before it could hit the ground.


    ¡°No, if anything we should maybe train in the valley of the first until sunrise,¡± said Arson.


    So they did. Which Troy was grateful for with her first high bar fight being the following night.


    When they entered two Armor suits formed from broken sets scattered all over the place. Both with the title MMA Olympian above their heads. Arson assumed MMA stood for mixed martial arts from what Jade had explained, but had no time to think about it as one of two armor sets charged him.


    He was then brutalized for hours, and didn¡¯t manage to land a single spartan kick on the olympian.


    ¡°Damn, you guys come back more and more beat up with every night out. Are you sure you two aren¡¯t going to end up leaving us leader-less and broke?¡± Arson and Troy looked at Jasmine, before they shared a look.


    ¡°That is a possibility for sure, nothing is promised in the dump at night, Jasmine.¡±


    ¡°Then, I want you to take the twins with you at night, I know you said it is dangerous, but they are both Cultivators, and I¡¯d prefer that our meal ticket had a bit more safety in numbers, no offense Troy.¡±


    ¡°None taken, I wouldn¡¯t like it if I couldn¡¯t be out there with him either,¡± said Troy. Arson felt his face burn slightly and wondered if he let his concentration slip on his resistance training.


    ¡°I will think about it. We have a fight to go to tonight anyway. When I¡¯m done with work and Troy wakes up, you guys are more than welcome to come if you¡¯d like, and we can even talk about it later over dinner.¡±


    The group agreed and Jade offered Troy a room to sleep in while Arson, Jasmine and the twins worked. Arson nearly forgot to confirm with Jasmine but spoke with her before she left.


    ¡°Did you handle the payment to Mr. Kim for the delivery?¡± asked Arson. Jasmine huffed and nodded.


    ¡°I may have botched the numbers, but trust me, I won¡¯t let things like that happen more than once, I may not be a brainiac like you or Jade, but I¡¯m going to get the job done, I even worked out him picking up all of the completed goods, for free.¡±


    ¡°I see. Make sure he pays you for the entire completed contract upfront, and all at once, I may even sit in on that meeting for bureaucratic reasons,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll prove to you I can get it done by myself with time I guess,¡± said Jasmine as she turned her back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong Jasmine, I¡¯m sitting in on the meeting as support only, not to get in the way, I won¡¯t even speak unless you prompt me too.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± said Jasmine. She left without another word.


    Arson sold his nearly 35 mana cores to Jade and had to force himself not to stare at his balance of 2.1 million credits. When he asked how much he owed her in food, he was thankful for her answer.


    ¡°You¡¯ve increased my reported production by more than 1000% from your shovel alone, and I¡¯ve been taking the food budget out of the mana cores you sell to me, and giving you what is left after.¡± Arson smiled.


    ¡°Good, I¡¯d probably go without pay if I were forced to choose between it and your cooking. Thanks Jade.¡± Arson once again hugged the tall woman to her surprise and darted out the door.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be late for dinner, boy, you know I don¡¯t like,¡± started Jade.


    ¡°When people eat your food and it¡¯s cold, I know, bye momma Jade!¡± Arson was at the hole in record time and pushed his body to move.


    He worked through the pain of his elemental poisons, and felt rewarded for every movement.


    Arson was not aware of how quickly he was growing through his physical efforts, but his actions also deeply effected his soul realm. An aspect of his body, mind, and soul, he needed to pay more attention too.


    Within his soul realm, some elements weren¡¯t being converted into stats, but instead, fed the sun with an overabundance of life-force, mana, and even overcharged his natural cells with stamina.


    The mist that had once been slight, now formed a violent cloud around the frozen particle ring.


    Arson worked, and the sun ate, more and more, until the line of power that led to his first node began to swell. A thick braid of power formed, and was joined by near pure white gold lightning streaks.


    The line continued to strengthen until it formed a near peerless pillar. From the apex of the sun, to the face of the node itself.


    The only thing that marred its surface, were the intricate lines of runes that were smaller than atoms, which began to stretch across its exterior unseen. They came from the node, and worked their way down to the sun, with every breath Arson took.


    ¡°Yo Arson, come on, we have to get going to my fight soon!¡±


    Arson heaved his shovel once more and began his run back to Maelstrom City for the first time in what felt like weeks. He had a present to buy, and a fight to corner.


    ¡°Focus, Arson, this is only the beginning¡­¡±

 Chapter 11: The Cage

    Arson watched the octagon from an elevated box. He would have stayed ringside, but Troy didn¡¯t want the inside scoop on any of the seven fighters in the ring with her. So Arson took the opportunity to see everything from a high vantage point.


    Troy stood in place. Far unlike her normal, active persona in the ring, she held herself entirely different.


    Most in the ring either faced her directly or looked in her direction.


    ¡°It seems our princess has made a mess of things and angered some real opponents, people. Let¡¯s see how this one works out.¡± The announcer played with the crowd and before Arson knew it, the match began.


    ¡°Come on, Troy, can¡¯t be any sparking worse than the dump at night, right?¡± Arson didn¡¯t know how exactly on the nose he hit the situation at hand. Troy was completely in her element.


    A group of up and coming fighters chose this arena as a way to knock Troy out of the current winning streak she held. It was anyone¡¯s last chance to stop Troy¡¯s rematch with her rival, The Demon, her last hurdle before the upcoming city tournament. How bad of a choice they made they were truly unaware.


    Troy¡¯s body slowly began to fill with light and two opponents charged her at once. She performed the near exact punch and kick that the style 7 armor had executed on the two of them in the dump, which sent her first two enemies into the cage wall, hard.


    In a blur of motion, she stood in the center of the ring. This was known to be a direct challenge to all fighters in the cage. A mark against the honor of anyone that allowed for the action to even occur. For what person believed they could survive in such a position? Only the mighty¡­


    Most in the ring hadn¡¯t seen her move, in her more recent matches. With her low status in the professional arena, most in the crowd were also what Arson considered to be unaware. A category that included Arson.


    ¡°You¡¯ve kept your top speed a secret for a reason, right? So show us what you got, Troy.¡±


    She waited and at first none came, as they looked at one another to make the first move. Then Troy spoke.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry this up, I got a hot meal waiting for me, and I gotta go show someone upstairs what happens when you call a queen, princess¡­¡± They all charged. How dare she. Mock them all. They would show her, all seven of them thought.


    What occurred was far from simple, Troy combined a pressure point technique, a rotation fist technique, and a burst of light infusion for speed.


    To most onlookers, the bodies of the seven young men and women in the ring with Troy just, dropped. Limp forms slumped over instantly.


    To Arson who knew what to look for, he¡¯d counted maybe 6 or 7 of the 13 strikes Troy threw.


    The crowd erupted, and Troy walked straight out of the ring to the shock of everyone there. The exit was thought to be that of a new elite fighter¡¯s bravado, until¡­


    ¡°Excuse me, you¡¯re aren¡¯t allowed to be in here, young lady,¡± said the announcer. His voice came through the intercom system far more shaken than it had been.


    ¡°Oh, now it¡¯s young lady, I¡¯ll show you princess,¡± said Troy before a muffled sound was heard, followed by shrieking, and laughter from the crowd.


    Arson rolled his eyes and exited the viewing booth he¡¯d rented and looked for his friend before she was arrested.


    ¡°Looks like I got to apply for at least what like a mach 1. Naw I¡¯m not that fast yet but damn I feel fast, maybe a 3.5, I could definitely hit 0 to 60 in 3.5. Am I rambling? I think I¡¯m rambling,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°You¡¯re fine, it¡¯s fun to listen to you when you get excited about your fights, motivates me to do more at the dump, and I honestly believe you¡¯ll be able to get your mach 1 speed license in no time.¡±


    Troy stopped. They were almost back to the dump and Troy seemed to have a serious question on her mind.


    ¡°Arson, can I work with you, or for you, I promise I won¡¯t mind working for a kid like Jasmine does. I just think I would enjoy getting to help you turn that place around is all,¡± declared Troy.


    ¡°Jasmine does hate working for me, doesn¡¯t she?¡± said Arson. He felt slightly defeated about how things were going with Jasmine. They seemed to clash a lot, and Arson needed to show her that they were undoubtedly a team.


    They were friends, and work associates. It was obviously hard for Jasmine not to see Arson as seven, which wasn¡¯t a problem for Arson.


    He needed Jasmine¡¯s respect for his plan to work. The problem was their environment taught them not to trust. To her, Arson was a fluke and moments away from disintegration.


    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t mean to divert from what you asked, I honestly already assumed we were partners in this, and know that you are probably seeing something I¡¯m missing.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say she hates working for you, just finds it difficult, intelligence is intimidating to most, kid, you gotta remember that,¡± said Troy as she started to walk again. She wore a huge smile, which Arson hoped meant she shared in his view of them being equals. He felt he needed that from his friends more than anything else.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, whatever, heard it all before. As for you working with me, like I said, I already assumed you were. Jade kind of hinted at something like that anyway, she¡¯s probably the one who put the idea in your head for all we know. Keeper magic feels unreal sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t play like that man, her magic already spooks me sometimes¡­ ooh what house shall we live in today? Poof! New house!¡± Troy shook her head.


    ¡°Look, if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that I have seen her cook, I¡¯d believe it was some sort of magic because of how good it taste,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°You don¡¯t think she¡¯s fattening us up for some immortal Cultivation ritual that makes her look all young and beautiful like she does, do you?¡± asked Troy. Arson burst into laughter.


    ¡°No, but I¡¯ll ask just in case. I mean they never found the last team to work here,¡± said Arson. They both went silent and shared a look. Then burst into laughter again.


    Dinner went fantastic, and Arson had managed to pick out not one, but two presents for Almarine. One he restored slowly in his inventory, and the other he¡¯d bought.


    Now all he had to do was survive the night, dark poison, and a handful of other semi reasonable yet dangerous situations and give her the presents tomorrow.


    ¡°Are you sure you can handle all that poison at once, kid,¡± asked Jade over dinner.


    ¡°To be honest, no, I was actually going to ask you if there was anyway to insure that I could maximize the chances of surviving all the elements,¡± asked Arson. Jade smiled and shook her head.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°No, this is literally a test of how much pain you can endure, kid. It is why some Cultivators don¡¯t make it far in their paths, and others excel.¡± Arson¡¯s gaze dropped to the floor as he realized the implications of what Jade meant.


    ¡°My entire path starts here¡­,¡± mumbled Arson under his breath.


    ¡°Yes, yet you must know your breaking point and not exceed that. If you aren¡¯t meant for all the elements, you aren¡¯t meant for all the elements, but so far, you are doing very well. I honestly don¡¯t know that you won¡¯t complete the remainder with ease, your focus grows strong. I can see you fidget less and less against the pain as time passes,¡± said Jade as she lifted Arson¡¯s chin to look him in the eyes.


    ¡°Yes, momma Jade.¡± The woman smiled and gestured for him to finish his food.


    ¡°Hey Arson, I think we should talk, I¡¯m getting a lot of questions asked by the other groups now at the orphanage every time I stop by to pay dues, ¡° said Jasmine as she set down her utensils.


    ¡°What kind of questions?¡± Arson and Troy were almost saying the same things as often as the twins and didn¡¯t seem to mind, while others did. They merely shared a look and a smile.


    ¡°Well, I bought the twins new clothes of course, well¡­ I guess I should say fixed expensive clothes from the dump and gave them to the twins I mean, and now I¡¯m being hounded for job requests, permission to talk to you about other services you may need, all that kind of stuff.¡±


    ¡°Services I may need?¡±


    ¡°Well the kitchen staff heard from Troy that she found a better place to eat, and now believe she¡¯s being cooked for by a professional, which she is¡­,¡± said Jasmine with a gesture at Jade.


    ¡°Then you have the research assistants, that saw Arson carrying a Cultivation manual as if they aren¡¯t expensive, and they have further spread rumors,¡± continued Jasmine.


    ¡°Yeah, and we might have slipped up and been excited to talk about Troy¡¯s fight, apparently a lot of the orphans came to her cage match and saw Arson in an expensive viewing room,¡± said one of the twins. Arson looked over at them and they both smiled as innocently as possible.


    ¡°So how much of my plans have been spilled in the orphanage? Do all the groups know I¡¯m interested in them, or just some?¡±


    ¡°From what I can tell, it is just some for now, but that will change and fast,¡± said Jasmine. Arson frowned, and placed his elbows on the table before he steepled his fingers and rested his chin on them.


    ¡°Looks like I may have to increase the speed of my plans if I don¡¯t want to either lose the opportunity, or create my own competition in my peers. We orphans can¡¯t see money and not get involved sometimes, I¡¯ll have to think on this, but I do have to visit tomorrow morning anyway. I have my first formal work review,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Sparks and embers! Is that tomorrow? I have to be there, don¡¯t I?¡± asked Jade who sighed heavily at Arson¡¯s nod, but he also noted that she wore a sneer-like smile. He had learned a lot about the woman recently, and the smile filled Arson with a sense of mischief and excitement, even though she expressed annoyance at her required attendance.


    She¡¯d only previously smiled like that when she was enthusiastic about one of Arson¡¯s many suggested changes to the dump and junkyard. Or when he asked her for suggestions on how to further his training.


    ¡°Ok, we shall leave after breakfast,¡± said Jade, and the conversation continued.


    Arson felt that he would have to figure out a way to keep his own people in the loop, all while his new ideas and plans needed to be kept secret.


    Yes, the orphans were taught community over individuality, but that was merely on the surface. What happens in the orphanage, stays in the orphanage.


    ¡°You ready?¡± Arson nodded at Troy, and the two rose. They said their goodbyes for the night and made their way to the dump.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, dude?¡­ you¡¯re never this quiet, you¡¯re making me nervous, we about to go into a red zone or something crazy?¡±


    ¡°What? No. I¡¯m just wondering if Dark is the best option I can choose is all,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Jade didn¡¯t seem to think it was a bad idea,¡± responded Troy.


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing, she did break her normal pattern. Normally I state an absurd idea, and she hears my plans out, not a word, but today, she asked about my state of wellbeing, not in a way that made me concerned about what I¡¯d done, but what I was about to do,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Damn, that is deep. are you sure you aren¡¯t reading too much into her every word, though?¡± Arson shook his head before he responded.


    ¡°Not at all, normally with others in my past I would have said you are probably right, but Jade seems to scheme even more than I do, believe it or not.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ well, maybe she has reason to, from the way it seems, you don¡¯t have very much time to get through this process now that you started it, which makes me wonder what kind of and how many other elements I could have been attuned to, if I would have known about the process you are going through.¡±


    ¡°I agree, I honestly think it¡¯s why Jasmine wants the twins to come out with us, but I don¡¯t know if I can handle worrying about more orphans in the dump, I have a feeling that Jade will only respect those I bring, or that can survive in the dump overnight, I¡¯m stubborn and your naturally talented, but you know how some of us are.¡± Arson rambled, but felt listened to. He often felt he talked too much, but couldn¡¯t help himself. So Troy¡¯s open ear, regardless of his youth and physical demeanor, in a society that only respected power, was nice.


    He was able to quickly gain a lot of opportunities in his recent days, but Troy joined him in his adventure as he joined her in his, it was different to Arson.


    That perspective alone he knew was shared. Troy now gave him all the mana cores she had, and he didn¡¯t charge her a single credit to manage her. They were partners, and they knew it, near instinctively.


    They separated and Arson let loose. Loose in a way he¡¯d never felt he could before. It was an odd sensation of freedom while he fought, a freedom only rivaled by the power that rose in his chest.


    He felt a flow. A buildup of energy that made his body thrum, and begin to spark with twisted sun like tendrils.


    This brought more and more enemies toward Arson, but he ignored the number and squared his feet.


    ¡°Come on!¡± He roared and did his best to use the combat maneuvers used on him by the armor within the valley of the first styles. He was sloppy, and undisciplined, but he practiced, and practice, until the pain he felt was far in the background of his mind, and he was calm enough to contemplate his next choice of element.


    With each punch thrown, and kick that landed, Arson felt less tension in the choice he felt rang to be true.


    After a while he met up with Troy and they made their way once again toward another self-propelled torture of sorts.


    ¡°All in the name of power, right?¡± said Arson as he stepped into the boundary for the third time. Instinctually Arson felt that Dark would be the wrong choice, and chose the odd metal orb instead.


    Another figure asked if he was sure, he read over the prompt that told him it was precious metals, and Arson selected yes.


    What occurred next would haunt Arson for weeks to come, longer even. Not his wildest dream, nor any moment of fear-filled imagination, could have prepared him for it.


    Metals, gems, stones, and even strange crystals, shot from the earth. The different materials formed a trident, a weapon so beautiful Arson gasped at the mere sight of its creation before the instrument took him completely off his feet.


    The diamond tipped war trident pierced straight through his chest with a spurt of blood mirrored across three exit points. The death instrument shattered inside his torso and Arson wailed in instant agony.


    Troy screamed, but Arson lost so much of his life force in a single second, that he lost consciousness. Then the weapon began to break itself down further and tear through Arson¡¯s body piece by piece.


    Massive shards caused the young boy to scream in his sleep. The only thing that kept him alive, was the energy of the dump, and his increased regeneration from being under starlight.


    Troy tried not to vomit as his bones were twisted and popped out of place as foreign metals wrapped around his bones and entire skeletal frame. She could see the entire process and truly wondered if Arson would survive with every fragment¡¯s movement.


    He¡¯d stopped crying, and even his whimpers had died, but all that remained to give her hope, was the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.


    When Arson woke up it was to more pain than he ever thought could be possible for a single person to experience.


    For fire, the constant burn had been something Arson easily compared to the sensation caused by an intense workout. So, he easily pushed it into the back of his mind. Even though he could still feel it now.


    Earth, left him with the uncomfortable feeling of being covered in sand from head to toe perpetually, and Arson honestly hoped his future water poisoning would fix that symptom. If he made it any further that is. This new pain was nearly indescribable.


    He felt as if his body had been opened, twisted inside out, scraped raw; all before his bones were framed in glass shards. A breath before he¡¯d been stitched closed.


    There was no way he held as much blood as he had on him, in his body. At some point he¡¯d had to have produced more blood to bleed.


    ¡°Ow,¡± said Arson. He sat up. Slowly. So slowly, that Troy began to pace in place. Her obvious discomfort written on her panicked features.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡°what?¡± me, that thing tried to kill you, man, like for real. I don¡¯t think you are supposed to survive these encounters anymore after that show of absurdity,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Nope, probably not, but I got my next stack of poison, and wow, does this sparking suck. I don¡¯t know what kind of benefits all this will lead to, but man, I better end up being a Keeper or something cool like that,¡± said Arson with a laugh. Then Troy looked at him and around at the area that surrounded them and then back at him once more.


    ¡°What if that is exactly what you are signing up for, kid?¡± stated troy.


    ¡°Naw, no way, that would probably take a lot more than these, what, 11 tortures. It¡¯s gotta be way harder than that,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Ok, but what about all those other things she said about the Omni, spirit, magical kingdoms, forms, all kinds of stuff? What if Jade is just letting you follow a path similar to her own? All Keepers are obligated to raise prominent youths, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but she wouldn¡¯t pick an orphan Troy. That¡¯s way to political a position for someone without a prominent name,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Arson, you are the perfect candidate, you are a literal Omni, of the bloodline, if she makes you her next to lead, you¡¯d be named if you became a Keeper. Maybe not the same name as the royal family, but you¡¯d be named.¡±


    Arson stopped. His mind drifted momentarily as he began to wonder.


    Why was Jade so nice to him. She didn¡¯t truly need the mana cores, and from what Arson could tell, her only benefit of his work at the dump was that she could report the work to the city.


    Keepers could have as much or as little company as they wanted, and Jade wasn¡¯t the extroverted type from what Arson could tell. She was reserved, quiet, until she needed to be otherwise, and graceful to an unrivaled level.


    He felt suddenly smothered, not only by responsibility, but by a potential legacy. He was no Keeper, he was thrown away by the royal family for being too much. He couldn¡¯t ascend to a station that could rival that same family, could he?


    Arson felt like he was surrounded by enemies. He felt fear unlike Troy at being caged. He felt shackled by a crown that was his, yet felt like nothing but a decoration.


    Yet Jade seemed to be his way out. A wall to hide behind, a place to grow in silence¡­ Then he realized all she¡¯d done for him and it hit him all at once. Thoughts of terror flooded his mind alongside the sneer of his newest mentor.


    ¡°Am I the disciple of a sparking Keeper?!¡±

 Chapter 12: Declaration

    Arson and Troy walked into the cafeteria of the orphanage and both immediately changed their minds. The decision not to eat there an easy one because of they felt they were being received.


    Jade promised them lunch instead since she had to meet with Almarine and the rest of the orphans work on commission. This left the two without their normal breakfast, and only one real option otherwise.


    Arson hadn¡¯t felt what kind of attention his new clothes brought, but assumed they would still be seen as restored, not brand new. Instead, he assumed they would be considered vintage lines of name brand product.


    People who could buy expensive clothes were seen one way, but those who could buy clothes that were expensive because of their rarity, were seen another way entirely.


    Every stare in the room solidified the choice for him. Arson would wait to eat lunch. Troy seemed to share his opinion and had already exited.


    ¡°Come on kid, don¡¯t you have to talk with Rob?¡± said Troy as she walked into the kitchen. Arson walked passed the whispers that he could almost pick out with his newly enhanced ears. He rolled his eyes, but some of the things he heard were hard to completely ignore.


    ¡°They think you are selling drugs for a gang,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I heard,¡± said Rob. The young man did his best with the small space he had. He also only had one aid and the girl could barely keep up with the demands Rob made on her in what felt to Arson like an endless stream of tasks.


    ¡°Need another 12 whisked, stat, Brianna!¡±


    The girl fluttered around and managed to increase her pace even further to Arson¡¯s surprise; almost like she wanted to show off since they had company, but Arson couldn¡¯t be sure.


    Rob continued to cook eggs in an array of different ways, all while he kept up an entire conversation, in between his continual commands to Brianna.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t believe it but man the watch alone is a dead give away, and Troy, what are you his bodyguard for hire, you seem to clean up nicely too.¡± They shared a look and nodded.


    ¡°Rob, I¡¯m not in a gang, and to protect myself from potential competition¡­, can¡¯t tell you what I am doing until you either join or point me in the direction of a better cook than you who wants to make a lot of money.¡± As a testament to his skills and prowess, he continued to flip omelets, but managed to look Arson directly in the eyes.


    ¡°What are you getting into, kid?¡± asked Rob.


    ¡°Something that will make those around me stop calling me kid all the time,¡± said Arson. Rob chuckled. But Troy¡¯s blank expression and Arson¡¯s show of feigned confusion stopped him.


    ¡°There are many delivery services in the city and their only problem is one of two things. First, the drone operated services run into bugs which is natural, people bump into each other in crowds, so crowded air space is no different,¡± said Arson as he picked up an apple and slowly summoned conductive waters into his hand.


    ¡°this technology will have less errors, but is expensive and only offered in certain areas. Second are the man powered services, which are currently lacking man power, which raises the price, and with the areas they are offered, they are very dangerous positions to hold,¡± continued Arson. The apple dissolved in his hand, and Arson was surprised to feel an intake of mana.


    ¡°Which brings me to my plan. You cook, train cooks, that is what I need from you, I¡¯ll pay you 100k a week, and any of your hires 10k a week, up to 10, and have you seen Khalif around, I need to talk to him.¡± The orb formed in Arson¡¯s hand and he closed his fist around it until it exploded. The blast just barely contained by his small hand. Rob for the first time dropped a pan at the sound of the explosion, and Arson smiled. Rob merely looked at him then Troy before he asked,


    ¡°Are you sure this isn¡¯t a gang?¡±


    Troy smirked when she saw the alarmed faces of the children that gazed into the kitchen from the room over. Then shrugged.


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Arson made his way to his appointment. He was nervous, as he hadn¡¯t gotten to talk to Jade since his assumption that morning. He knew he could be wrong, but felt he wasn¡¯t.


    He didn¡¯t know the appropriate time to ask, and didn¡¯t feel the meeting would be the best place to make a mockery of himself if Jade had no intention to extend an offer of discipleship to him.


    ¡°Next,¡± said Almarine. Arson walked into the room and smiled at Jade. The woman rose to her feet and many in the crowd murmured at her appearance there. From what he could hear, it was beyond a rarity to see the Keeper of Maelstrom¡¯s dump make her way into the city for any reason, which only furthered Arson¡¯s suspicions.


    ¡°Thank you for joining us, young man. Next we have the request of your newest employer, Jade of CloudLake, may your master rest in peace,¡± said Almarine as she looked from Arson, then to Jade. Jade nodded at the woman and a few others on the board.


    ¡°You are here to give the first assessment for Arson the unnamed, he has worked for you for nearly half a season now, how is his¡ª¡± started Almarine.


    ¡°No need, as I¡¯ve paid his dues, if he is willing, I would like to have you process him into my custody immediately,,¡± said Jade to Arson¡¯s utter shock. He was only further blown away when she continued and the crowd¡¯s volume grew.


    ¡° He will be not only my disciple, but my heir as well.¡± The shock in the room became physical. Not only from Arson but most of the crowd and board as well.


    ¡°Well, he must have made a good impression then,¡± said Almarine. Jade looked back at Arson as she nodded.


    ¡°What do you say, kid, you already call me Momma Jade, we can make it legitimate, you¡¯ve already shown me more than enough to see you as my own son, know you to be my own son, said Jade with a point toward the watch she¡¯d given him. Arson once again felt strange about his watch and lifted it toward her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t deserve it Jade, there are many other children that would bring you far more honor,¡± said Arson with tears in his eyes. He didn¡¯t even know when he¡¯d started to cry, but only felt the tears after he realized Jade was also teary eyed.


    ¡°None.¡± Jade said, shaking her head.


    ¡°None who took a chance on my family¡¯s home as you have, my son, not as you have honored my ancestry, nor has any other been able to prove themselves worthy as you have by controlling my father¡¯s watch, and inspired people toward better as you do, young Arson. It has been a short time, but you are my son, and I would be honored for you to know me as your mother, young man. What do you say, you''re making me look crazy in front of people, boy,¡± said Jade with a laugh. Arson nodded. He turned to Almarine who also cried with a large smile on her face.


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    ¡°Shall he be named now, or will it wait? Is there a ceremony for this process?¡± asked Almarine. Apparently she was as clueless to the process as Arson. Neither had seen a Keeper adopt or pick a disciple in their short and long lifetimes, as it was a truly rare event.


    ¡°There is a ceremony when he enters the world of HonorBorn competition, but it¡­ well sorry I have never done this before and have a lot on my mind. These matters should go unsaid, and that is for completely different reasons, and should be done in private, although I have considered this for a long time now and I do have a name for him ready,¡¯ Jade looked at Arson and gave him a contemplative look. He was shocked to hear her ramble, and couldn¡¯t tell if the obvious excitement Jade displayed was an act, or true happiness at his acceptance of her as his mother.


    Before she spoke his mind had to ignore that her words indicated she considered a name for Arson for a long time, which was impossible, so he instead assumed she¡¯d considered what she would name her own children or disciples, long before they¡¯d met and felt he¡¯d burst at the seams in anticipation over his new name.


    ¡°Arson, named such as all who are born in this land without a name or title, I give you both my name and my title, with the exception that Arson will always remain a piece of what makes you, you, from henceforth you will be known as Sovereign Arson Omni,¡± said Jade. The room once again went silent and some were even confused. Sovereign, there was only one Sovereign that Arson knew of, and Omni was the family name of the Royal family, he¡¯d been cast out from.


    Arson was in a state of utter shock. From what had just happened Arson now knew two things he¡¯d only suspected were nothing but reality.


    One, the SunStorm Sovereign from his vision had just not only adopted him and chosen him as a disciple, she was related to him through a direct blood tie.


    ¡°Does this mean that young Sovereign will be entering into the competition of Scions,¡± asked Almarine. Jade only nodded and Arson¡¯s jaw dropped. Jade closed his mouth with a single finger, without a look in his direction and Arson focused on what happened next.


    ¡°I would also like to pay the rest of Troy¡¯s contract, she and the boy seem like a packaged deal and her freedom will help my son grow,¡± said Jade. Arson smiled deeply at the woman¡¯s words, and didn¡¯t miss the reddened cheeks the woman sported momentarily.


    ¡°Of course, that will be entirely up to her and we will have to talk to¡ª¡± started Almarine, but Troy¡¯s head poked into the large open doorway at the room¡¯s rear entrance and shrieked with excitement.


    ¡°I¡¯m going Miss Mary!¡±


    A brief time later, Arson walked through the orphanage with a smile on his face so large he felt he most likely looked like a drunken fool. He was on the prowl for two groups, one was the bookish, or the researcher kids that followed the path of science & magic offered through most school curriculums, and the Scapegrace,, a gang started by Khalif from what Arson knew, that consisted entirely of orphan Cultivators.


    He found Xani who pretty much ran the library at the orphanage. The girl flew overhead and landed a few hundred yards away from Arson who almost called out to her, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder before he could approach the girl. He was turned around by a silver haired young man just over 7 feet. It was Khalif and he didn¡¯t look happy.


    ¡°Hey Richie Rich, heard you¡¯ve been looking for me?¡±


    The next thing Arson knew, he had a bag over his head and was tied down by what he assumed to be four or five kids.


    ¡°What the sparks Khalif, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Shut it down with the yells, kid, we¡¯ll beat the sparks out of anyone who approaches.¡± Arson¡¯s mind drifted momentarily at what the threat entailed, but then he realized, maybe he didn¡¯t need help.


    You were looking for the Scapegrace Arson, they just found you first¡­


    After a few more moments of being carried around like a sack of potatoes. Arson was dropped into a seat and the bag was pulled off his head. Arson merely smiled at Khalif, who scowled back at him.


    Arson tried not to roll his eyes when they were done posturing. He¡¯d been tied firmly to a metal chair, and Arson wondered momentarily if he could melt the metal, before a snap of inspiration made him smile.


    Plan B is always my favorite, but I really hope Plan A works this time.


    ¡°What,¡± asked Arson.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you that,¡± said Khalif. Arson shrugged, and looked around at the other cloaked and masked youths that surrounded him.


    ¡°Stop the games, kid, you¡¯re making too many waves in the orphanage to be wasting my time. What do you want from Scapegrace?¡± said Khalif with a wave at the 20 people around.


    ¡°I need you to be bodyguards for my employees,¡± said Arson. He didn¡¯t expand, or speak further. He¡¯d stated his needs and felt that should and would be enough. He had no intention of being seen as weak by any, may that be potential friend, or potential foe.


    ¡°Ha,¡± said Khalif with a snort of laughter.


    ¡°What makes you think my gang is going to respect a kid enough to work for him. You think you can pay more than we make on the streets of Maelstrom,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°Well, I do pay well,¡± responded Arson, again he gave nothing further. He hadn¡¯t been in business long, and still had many steps between where he was and where he wanted to be. So took the time not to boast too carelessly. He didn¡¯t want to make a mark out of himself, especially in front of a criminal entity like Scapegrace.


    ¡°A gang needs more than money to follow, Arson, Loyalty, honor, and strength are respected above all else in my crew, and I can¡¯t promise that if I make them work for some weak kid who just started to cultivate and feels he needs a bigger pair of underwear, that it would be worth their time,¡± said Khalif. This caused everyone around them to laugh. The problem with the statement for Arson was that he couldn¡¯t feel their power at all. Even troy¡¯s ambient mana was strong enough to leak from her body and create a powerful aura.


    So either the gang was developed enough to hide their energy, auras, and presence entirely, or they were just weak. All of them¡­


    ¡°Well I¡¯m sure I could beat up everyone in here without too many issues,¡± said Arson as he rolled his neck to stretch as much as possible before he moved.


    ¡°Kid, you''re funny, no one is going to let you fight 20 or more people one on one in a gang, you might have a few skills now, but you¡¯re still one person to our literal mob,¡± said Khalif. Arson shrugged and at the same time conductive waters began to spray from his palms in a soft stream. Khalif¡¯s eyes squinted as he heard the sound of water, but Arson was already in motion.


    Let¡¯s hope we didn¡¯t just walk into a bunch of kids who know to aura suppress¡­, thought Arson to himself.


    ¡°What the sparks is that sound,¡± asked one of the gang members.


    Arson jumped in place and roared as he rotated himself in the air still connected to the chair. His body turned horizontal in a moment of weightlessness. Then, he dropped, smashing the metal chair they¡¯d placed him in directly into the ground and the conductive waters he¡¯d pooled below himself.


    The energy filled water ate through the ropes around his wrist and he performed a kick up before anyone truly had time to react.


    The Scapegrace¡¯s low energy levels told Arson that conductive waters would kill or maim the gang members, so he stuck to the teachings of the olympians in the Valley of the First style.


    A spin kick took out the nearest person to Arson¡¯s back, after his heel connected with their jaw. They were sent into a group behind themselves, and Arson charged into the group before anyone else could grab him.


    ¡°Boss, get this kid off me!¡± Arson had run up the body of his first foe and latched onto another young man, while standing on the teen¡¯s torso.


    The boy caught on fire from head to toe, only for Arson to breathe deeply even as gravity took hold and they teetered. The boy¡¯s eyes went wide as Arson drank flames, and then punched him cleanly in the nose.


    Arson¡¯s next attack was as fluid as the previous had been. He continued to chain his movements together, and launched off the gang member as his flames went out.


    Arson was in the air with another kick before his second opponent managed to hit the ground.


    Arson refused to be slowed or caught. Every hold they got him in, he broke. Nearly every punch or kick he blocked, parried or dodged, but the only person who managed to hit him, was Khalif.


    In a moment of desperation Khalif had grabbed Arson¡¯s long hair and punched him right in the eye. This further enraged Arson and his previous feeling about wearing kid gloves, vanished.


    The remaining 6 or 7 opponents scattered like rats when the enraged kid fired dozens of explosive water orbs at them.


    ¡°Come on!¡± Arson took a second to look around and realized the fight was over. He took deep breaths and straightened. Young men and women groaned in pain on the ground or stood at a distance in a perimeter around Khalif. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed and spoke.


    ¡°Sorry about that, maybe I should try and hire a more refined group of individuals, I don¡¯t know that you all could truly protect my people as you are now,¡± said Arson. Khalif looked around at his own people and then back to Arson.


    ¡°How the sparks are you this strong, kid, I¡¯ve been cultivating for almost a decade and can¡¯t move like that. There should be no way that you can.¡± Arson shook his head.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie and say that I don¡¯t have a few secrets, but none directly resulted in your loss, other than my daily training, which is truly no secret,¡± said Arson. One of his defeated opponents still tried to reach for his leg with a hand full of sparks. Arson¡¯s mind drifted to the apple he¡¯d dissolved earlier and he tried something as Khalif watched. Arson crouched and tested his new hypothesis.


    The orb of conductive waters formed in his hand and Arson put the orb in the path of the lightning as it sparked toward him. He was surprised to feel the mana being sucked from the energy and poured directly into his own body and core.


    ¡°What¡¯s the job? And what¡¯s the pay?¡± asked Khalif. Arson didn¡¯t look up as he drained mana from the sparks until the boy passed out and the energy dispersed.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know if I can give the same offer I had in mind previously, now I believe you all will need to pass a test,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°And if we pass, we get paid?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I plan on giving you 100k a week and 10k for each of your people a week, but only if you and yours can survive a night in the dump,¡± said Arson. He rose to his feet and headed toward the nearby window to see where he was.


    He found out they¡¯d taken him to the abandoned home left on the orphanage¡¯s property by the last orphan Keeper. He looked back at Khalif and those that surrounded the young man, and once again shrugged with a smile on his face before he walked off.


    ¡°You know where to find me.¡±

 Chapter 13: The Gate to Power

    Arson whistled as he looked for Xani, the girl was always hard to find as her constant magic practice kept her on the move.


    She was a prodigy in magic and was also the kind of talent Arson thought a person like Jade would adopt. Drive, intelligence, and calculative, all traits Arson didn¡¯t know he himself possessed.


    ¡°Took you long enough to find me,¡± said Xani from her seat on the roof¡¯s ledge. Arson approached her from behind and stepped up to stand on the ledge.


    ¡°Yeah, well, I can only do so many things at once and Khalif and his people skipped in line.¡±


    ¡°You got away with only a beat down, you should count yourself lucky,¡± said Xani as she looked up at his bruised eye. Arson nodded and decided to keep the fact that he¡¯d given the beatdown instead, to himself.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but that is besides the point, I¡¯m here to make you an offer,¡± said Arson as he crouched and rested his elbows on his knees, with a hand under his chin and the other afloat near his middle.


    ¡°What kind of offer, you know I won¡¯t join a gang, right?¡±


    ¡°Geez, I am only seven, I could not have been such a menace in that amount of time for you all to immediately assume I started a gang,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°As if, Arson! You blew up Gregory¡¯s birthday cake with 100 cherry bombs, you tried to start a gambling den in the basement only two summer cycles ago, and you¡¯ve lost more fights than you have won, but still seem to get into a scrape every other day,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°So I¡¯m automatically a career criminal,¡± said Arson with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Well, you chose the wrong Keeper to follow if that isn¡¯t what you are going for,¡± said Xani. Arson frowned, Xani knew more than most, so if she hinted at Jade being cut from stained cloths, it was true.


    ¡°What do you know?¡± She looked him in the eyes again as she flipped a page in her sketchbook and started to depict his features.


    ¡°Jade, formerly known as Elizabeth Carter, is known to be the only living descendant of Carter Omni, the literal patron god of criminals,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°No sparking way,¡± murmured Arson, unsure if he was intimidated by his mother¡¯s past, or exhilarated at the thought that the law hadn¡¯t been able to confine Jade in her youth.


    ¡°Yes, and Elizabeth Carter before she was given the Jade title, was probably CloudLake City¡¯s most notorious criminal youth, she took the title to avoid the Final Stop for the second time,¡± explained Xani simply while she drew Arson¡¯s face in many different expressions, as they spoke.


    Arson was shocked at the claims being spouted, but the problem was who shared the details. Xani was an epistemologist, a seeker of truth, these things wouldn¡¯t be shared otherwise. As her people believed lies, and rumors, were as evil as demons.


    ¡°Second time, how is that possible I thought once you were teleported into the prison train that you couldn¡¯t escape no matter what, you become a career criminal, you''re caught and never seen again, right?¡± Xani giggled at Arson¡¯s furrowed brow.


    ¡°Yeah, unless you destroy the train from the inside, derail it, and and slam it into a skyscraper, and that was her second escape, the first one is even more insane to believe actually occurred,¡± said Xani. She closed her sketchbook, and stepped into the air. Arson gasped as she floated nearby the rooftop.


    Arson hadn¡¯t looked down a single time because of how bad his fear of heights was. He only managed the top of trash heaps with the knowledge that he¡¯d climbed them and could probably fall off and roll to safety without harm.


    What Xani did now was Arson¡¯s greatest dream. To fly the skies and be freed from gravity¡¯s draw.


    ¡°Close your mouth, cutie, I¡¯ll teach you if you become strong enough. Now hurry up and make your offer?¡±


    ¡°I will hire you and the rest of the bookish that follow your direction for 100k and 10k prospectively, for all my crafting needs. I have some huge projects that I need help with and they are going to take a lot of work,¡± stated Arson. He had a spacial restoration device in mind that if completed would turn the dump into pure credits. Without Xani and the bookish, it would take a lot of untrusted sources, and Arson didn¡¯t have the time to network with his training schedule.


    ¡°Introverts don¡¯t like change, but most like money,¡± said Xani. Then she disappeared with the only proof that she¡¯d ever been there, was the sound barrier being broken in the distance. He sent her a payment offer and assumed if she signed and accepted, that she and her people could be relied on.


    ¡°Sparks I hope I learn to fly soon.¡± He glanced down and jumped back from the edge. Arson turned around and became dizzy. So dizzy in fact that he lost his balance.


    For Arson the next few moments of his life were a blur. He fell backward and a surge of energy muddled his entire mind. Within his soul realm a pillar of solid light broke forcefully through his soul node¡¯s gate and external energy surged into the space.


    Blood sprayed in every direction as mana pushed through his pores and forcefully ejected anything the energy felt lacked purity. His blood began to boil, as it was also changed through his every cell being consumed by mana.


    An even larger explosion bursted free of his body and would have threatened to even break his bones, if he wouldn¡¯t have undergone his last round of poisoning.


    His muscles split open as if torn. Blood vessels burst, while Arson¡¯s soul drank in mana from the environment.


    All of this occurred and Arson hadn¡¯t even completely drifted into a horizontal position in the air. By the time his head fell below his feet, his mind cleared and he woke up. Something was wrong as time seemed to slog forward at an incredibly slow pace.


    Which made Arson wonder if he was going to die. Still unaware of his internal changes, he entered his soul realm and gasped mentally.


    The inside of his soul realm shone with a bright light that painted the sky a sunset crimson, and golden white that dazzled the eyes. His core still converted energy into stat points, but Arson was confused where all the extra energy came from. He once again followed the line of power, the journey somehow took longer, and Arson struggled to look away from the pillar that had formed.


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    The runes seemed to speak to him but he didn¡¯t know what the language was, nor how to begin to decipher them. After what felt like a week, Arson made it to the soul node¡¯s gate, and found something far more interesting than the runes.


    Stars shot out of the node and entered his soul realm with every thought that passed through his mind.


    ¡°Are these stars the physical representation of my thoughts, within my soul?


    He didn¡¯t know what else to do, so he entered the gate, by pushing through the brilliant white light above.


    He felt as if his brain tingled as he entered his Cerebral realm for the first time. It felt like the first touch of warm water on his body when he showered on a cold day.


    When he entered the space, he saw a new area that at first confused him. With himself positioned at the center, many points of interest could be found.


    Below him, was a vortex that reminded him of images described as black holes in science texts he¡¯d seen in the library.


    He found himself afloat in a space that seemed to have four rounded walls. In addition to a domed ceiling and floor.


    Arson took in the odd symbols on the walls and then his eyes drifted toward the black vortex at the center of the spaces floor.


    The hard-light pillar poked through the hole and a beam of light could be seen connected from its pointed tip to a tree like pattern behind him. Its branches seemed to connect to every portion of the area, the light a beautiful web that spread above his head and beyond.


    To his left and right were what Arson could only describe as four saxophones connected by their mouth pieces. They both rotated clockwise, and a soft hum could be heard from their ends. Arson found this truly odd, until he concentrated on what was in front of him.


    The sky could be seen through two open windows, windows that seemed to have vortexes of their own that surrounded their edges, and Arson was momentarily lost in the stars that filled the portrait like images.


    Is that what I am looking at? Now that his cerebral realm had begun its creation, he¡¯d began to get instinctual sensations about the elements within his mind and soul. The same way he could tell the stars that poured into his soul were his thoughts, he could now tell that these were windows that led to Arson¡¯s mind and then his soul. The more he understood about the mental space, the more it solidified around him.


    The tree that represented his spine and neural network, transformed from the flat perspective he¡¯d seen originally, and solidified into a real tree. It then moved to position itself above the pillar of light.


    An even stronger connection was formed and the golden tree pulsed. Arson didn¡¯t know what he was doing, but his innate talent for ancient practices flared to life.


    Outside of Arson¡¯s body he¡¯d managed to fall an entire floor, but also triggered the creation of his mental core in full, which had an external effect.


    His pores and eyes drank in even more mana than ever before. His body needed it both to recover from the node he¡¯d opened, and to be able to handle the effect that made his mind perceive everything around him as slowly as it currently was.


    Arson knew he needed to do something, but his mind told him that to finish his mental core would be the most beneficial thing he could do. So he continued even as he fell.


    Inside his Cerebral realm, he focused on the saxophone like constructs, he correlated these two objects to sound and movement instinctually and the flattened objects transformed.


    One into a storm, that flew above the tree. Its precipitation was crystal clear, and the light it emitted only rivaled by the light that the tree itself created. Lightning shot outward from the cloud instead of down, in pulses that seemed to tell Arson his cardinal directions.


    The second of the two instruments, formed what felt like an ocean around the black hole itself.


    In the next instant, a tsunami-like wave burst into creation immediately under all the chaotic pressure at the perimeter of the water, which seemed to increase the intensity of the spacial vortex that the water surrounded even further.


    The final two pieces to his mental core creation distorted Arson¡¯s mind completely. One window became the sky itself, which also allowed Arson to see all around himself at once. The moment this happened his mind nearly shut down, until the second window moved. Once in place, it transformed into a halo that sat above the cloud, which sat above the tree, above the black hole, above the now perfectly aligned pillar of light that had extended itself from his soul into the limits of his Cerebral realm.


    Arson felt he¡¯d done something right, but then he felt very tired. He wasn¡¯t aware of how the effects of adrenaline on his body made his cores push his every cell into overdrive. His mind saw his current predicament as potentially his final, and had tried to give him every opportunity it could.


    Oddly enough, he saw a way out of his fall in the breath before he passed out. The path lit up to his eyes like a beacon. Every foothold and hand position given to him like a simple calculation.


    Problem was the abilities he¡¯d triggered were so far above his own body, he could make no move toward what he now knew to be a route to safety. So instead, Arson fell from 11 stories up.


    The sound of his body when it hit the ground is still in his memory, as his newly increased mental perception seemed to record everything that his mana touched around him, which by the cloud of ambient mana that his pores now leaked, was absolutely everything.


    His mind may have been dormant but his brain was not. So as he slept for the next week, all he heard in his mind over and over, was the sound of his own fall.


    When he woke up in the middle of a scream the following week. He vowed to himself, that he would learn to fly, and soon. As he knew he¡¯d survived by the skin of his teeth, and what had felt like a few drops of life force energy. Then he realized his watch had been ringing with a notification that indicated a payment invoice for over 1 million credits, and then a payroll invoice that immediately took 500k of his earnings in payroll. He rolled his eyes.


    Looks like the members of my team are hard at work, thought Arson to himself.


    ¡°Sparks, looks like it''s back to work.¡±


    From the strange bed Arson found himself in he used his Holo-watch to register his business with the CityNation of Maelstrom. With the assistance from the device¡¯s advanced functions, the complicated paperwork was simplified to a degree that allowed for the less experienced Arson to finish quickly.


    He hadn¡¯t known what he wanted to name his company but as he thought of what he wanted to do with the dump, a name came to him. He was inspired by what Jade had told him about the dump, and what the area could one day become. So he did what any other young boy would do in his situation and named his company the most terrifying thing he could think of, that also symbolized his new home.


    ¡°The Black Hole Conglomerate,¡± said Arson as he finished the digital paperwork.


    His company was registered as a merchant group, and had even managed to start the documents necessary to be an international exporter of goods. All that was left for him to do now, was build the funds required to finalize the registration, then he remembered the invoice that had woken him up, and laughed to himself before he gave away every credit he¡¯d just made.


    He stretched, ignored his growing list of Overlay notifications, which explained the changes to his soul and mind after he¡¯d broken open his first node gateway, and finished his mental core, all before he rolled out of bed and fell onto the ground.


    ¡°Ha, looks like the runt isn¡¯t quite healed yet¡±, came an unfamiliar voice. Arson rolled around on the floor, not yet able to stand, still under the effects of extreme mana exposure.


    ¡°What, who said that?¡± Arson spoke aloud to the room, but sensed no energies nearby. The home he was in seemed familiar, but Arson couldn¡¯t be sure because of how many houses Jade made appear and disappear with the wave of her hands. So a strange voice, in a foreign place, was to be expected to Arson.


    ¡°Geez, look down here kid,¡± said the voice. Arson looked down and saw nothing, until he noticed his watch.


    ¡°Hi, what¡¯s your name, I¡¯m kidding I already know your name, runt, but I wonder if you could guess mine?¡± Arson shook his head at the beautiful face. His mind flickered to what Jade had said about the watch¡¯s AI function, and he wondered if he should already have attempted to turn off the AI, as well as if the AI had been on and operational the entire time he¡¯d slept.


    ¡°Am I in trouble here?¡±


    ¡°No but I shouldn¡¯t be talking to you, Momma Jade warned me not to, I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Arson as he began to look for the controls to turn off the AI¡¯s systems. Controls that were absolutely no where to be found.


    ¡°Hmph, you are no fun, but it is nice to meet you Arson, I am Anastasia and I have a proposition for you.¡± Arson nodded as if he cared what the woman said, but still looked for her off switch.


    ¡°I need a body, and you¡¯re going to build me one, doesn¡¯t have to be now but for my illustrious services, it is my only requirement, it is either you do that, or, I tell your mother that you turned my systems on and deleted the coding linked to my off switch, in direct defiance of her commands¡­¡± Arson stopped his search and gaped at Anastasia. He didn¡¯t know exactly what to do, which bothered him. Arson was normally very decisive, but had only just been adopted.


    Jade should believe me over this sparking AI, right?


    He sat frozen, and began to nod slowly. He felt that he could get out of this situation with time, and experience, until then, he would use this AI to get ahead, as most cultivators gained guardian spirits and AI assistants much later in life. The reasons why still unknown to Arson.


    ¡°Ok, demon, but threaten to reveal your functionality in anyway to my mother again, and I will make sure you are destroyed, even if I do cherish what you are housed in, I value my relationship with Jade far more, do you understand?¡± Arson forced down the smile he felt tinge his lips at the sight of the disgruntled AI. Apparently the AI didn¡¯t like to be threatened in the same way she had just done to him, nor did she seem to like Arson¡¯s given nickname.


    ¡°I¡¯ve met demons, and I am far worse than any of those simple beasts, child, but¡­¡± Anastasia put on the smile that Arson felt that he hid. The AI¡¯s smile seemed far more dangerous than any glare Arson had ever received as Anastasia finished.


    ¡°You have a deal.¡±

 Chapter 53: Working Vacation?

    ¡°Welcome to another episode of BHC news, I am your host, Lane, and today we are going to address the rumors about our newest fighter, Cro of Pocket Apartment 1.¡±


    Arson watched the feed and packed a bag at the same time. Luckily for him, Jasmine had a new musou black leather jacket and jeans for him the same day he got back. Arson enjoyed the spacial dimension pockets in the clothing, but ended up never using them due to his watch.


    ¡°We asked many viewers how they felt about her and were surprised by the answers we received,¡± continued Lane.


    Sparks¡­ where did I put my shoes? Arson closed his eyes and let a pulse of the Closed Eye Dominion show him his entire room and sighed when the shape of his shoes was on his desk.


    ¡°That chick gives no sparks at all, she just came in and was like you guys are some chumps and boom, bow, bang, everybody is eating punches,¡± came yelled from the broadcast when Arson walked away from the wall that projected the BHC broadcast.


    He put on his shoes, and tied them. He knew laced tennis-shoes were old fashioned but loved the high top sneakers he wore regardless. Due to the recyclers, he could restore his shoes no matter how damaged they were, and Xani was still working to perfect the restorative runes for stitching new functions into the linings of the clothes Jasmine and her teams made.


    ¡°I¡¯m personally a diehard for the Queen of Troy of course, but sparks man the BHC has some real characters, makes me wonder what other kind of fighters they are hiding in the background, half of these fights don¡¯t seem semi professional but the real deal instead,¡± rambled another excited young woman who attended the fight.


    ¡°Now my boss is well aware that many of you would like to see an interview with Cro. I¡¯m sorry, but he doesn¡¯t care and would like all of you to know that she will present herself to the world if and whenever she pleases, but hold on I can see the boo-hoos in the comments and would like you all to know that I will personally enter the depths of the pocket apartment myself if necessary to obtain a one-on-one,¡± said Lane. Arson was impressed with how much she¡¯d grown in a short time, but was sad to say that his own growth had begun to get in the way of progress.


    Other than his plans for Auto, Arson hadn¡¯t been able to push forward as fast as he wanted to with his other goals for multiple reasons.


    The most important being, his friends. They didn¡¯t know him anymore. Micro and the pocket apartment group were closer to him than anyone he knew, and that was because of the countless battles they¡¯d been forced into together over the recent season cycles within Endless.


    So instead of allowing for the awkwardness to continue. He put everything on an immediate pause to rebalance the tight knit bond he felt he¡¯d always shared with Khalif and the others.


    ¡°Like I said people, I made a promise and I don¡¯t break those. I know you all are used to everyday live streams, but for the next three days, I will be abroad on a working vacation with the other higher-ups of the BHC, so expect that interview in four days, I know, it¡¯s an eternity, but to make it up to you, I¡¯ve got my hands on secret training videos of the pocket apartment members for you, and secret training sessions for the queen of Troy to hold you over until I get back, and you know how we get down, no re-runs!¡±


    The feed ended with a companion video that displayed Micro and her team performing a scouting mission in a foreign realm, which made the footage being seen, not only very illegal, but priceless material for collectors who studied other realms.


    The thought of other realms made Arson¡¯s eyes drift toward the timer in his Overlay that showed how long he had to return to Endless and continue his tasks there. Which made him think of the only other place outside his own realm that he wanted to return to. The kingdom he¡¯d help rebuild as a child, had blue sand beaches that glimmered across the local shorelines .


    The pink waters were somehow Cristal clear and tainted all at the same time. Yet no matter what he¡¯d seen after, he¡¯d never been mesmerized by anything above the reddish hue sustained atop the deep ocean blue sands below the waters of the kingdom¡¯s perimeter.


    The ocean appearing to turn red the further out his gaze had traveled when he flew through the skies above the kingdom, still took his breath away to think about.


    ¡°I wish I could take Troy there, I bet she¡¯d love it,¡± thought Arson to himself.


    ¡°Hey, are you ready yet? Everyone is waiting for you outside, dude,¡± Troy walked into Arson¡¯s room in a sun dress that made Arson¡¯s mouth open slightly. Troy blushed at Arson¡¯s lingering stare, and coughed after the silence extended to a nearly uncomfortable level.


    ¡°You¡¯re staring, so speak, it can¡¯t be that bad, I really like this dress,¡± said Troy with a twirl. Arson sputtered and Troy rolled her eyes at him before she closed the distance and gave him a quick hug.


    Of everyone, Troy and surprisingly Xani handled the changes to Arson with the most ease. Xani only struggled with his height change and normally started to speak toward his belly out of habit from looking down to speak to Arson, but Troy seemed unaffected by the changes. Which made Arson feel at home, and that they had always been as close as he¡¯d hoped they would one day become.


    ¡°You are doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you,¡± asked Arson. Troy nodded and pulled him out of the room without another word.


    ¡­


    Jade felt at ease. Even though she had to extend her kitchen to fit a hundred pupils all at one time. Even though she hadn¡¯t had a moment to herself beyond crying alone in dark rooms in wait for her son¡¯s return. And even though her life was constantly changing, which she¡¯d never liked or been accustomed to prior.


    ¡°Now students- ¡± Jade started to speak, but then Arson popped his head into the room at the perfect time to pull her away from her current thought. She knew her son was trying to catch her off balance, and was even further stunned when his question actually achieved the feat.


    ¡°Hey Mom, can we have a portal to Raid Corp? I think it would make a perfect vacation spot for me and the others, and didn¡¯t know if¡ª¡°


    ¡°What did you say? I don¡¯t believe I heard you correctly, young man. Did you say, Raid Corp?¡±


    Arson nodded, while he slowly looked away his lips pressed together as if he didn¡¯t know exactly how to ask.


    ¡°That is quite an expensive request, son. Are you sure you are ready for¡ª¡±


    ¡°Of course Mom, I already bought the entrance tickets, just need the portal, don¡¯t exactly trust mundane travel, and don¡¯t really want to be caught flying throughout Maelstrom for any reason right now,¡± said Arson with a deepened voice that his mother still hadn¡¯t gotten used to. It was her turn to nod, and to her own surprise, she found herself flipping a coin toward Arson. Who deftly grasped the token out of the air, and looked at the coin in confusion.


    ¡°What is this?¡± The coin was made of a black metal and sported a white gold swirl on the face of both sides. One swirl clockwise, and the other counterclockwise.


    ¡°Xani worked on these, they work with temporal mana. Once a teleporter has been to a location, remnants of that location¡¯s mana stays with them perpetually. This is how long distance teleporters are able to return to places they¡¯ve been before, the more powerful the teleporter, the more locations they can store or access within their own mana, and the further the distances they can travel,¡± explained Jade as a preface.


    ¡°That coin stores mana linked to locations, infused with the mental impressions used by the teleporter, and can open a single portal to, and a single return portal back to where it was originally used from,¡± finished Jade and Arson¡¯s eyes widened before he pocketed the coin.


    ¡°Starting to think that you all improved as much as I did, and I was granted a lot more time,¡± said Arson with a sigh. Jade couldn¡¯t help but smile at her son¡¯s contemplative features.


    ¡°Your friends are as marvelous as you are, my son, which is why you chose them to be by your side. Don¡¯t be surprised if their lives come with as much inspiration as your own,¡± said Jade. When her son smiled and waved his goodbyes, Jade was happy to know that she could comfort him, but worried that maybe she shouldn¡¯t have let him go where he wanted.


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    He survived Endless, this should be nothing for him Elizabeth, don¡¯t be ridiculous, he¡¯s fine¡­


    ¡°Love you mom, call me if you need us!¡±


    ¡­


    Arson walked hand in hand with Troy through the Dump. Though they had only reunited recently, they were both amazed by how comfortable they seemed to be together.


    Arson wasn¡¯t one for physical contact normally, but often felt the want to bridge any physical space between himself and Troy whenever she was in the room.


    He caught her often looking at him when he wasn¡¯t paying attention, and found himself stealing the same glances of her. The two were captivated by one another, and Arson didn¡¯t know if the rush of emotions he felt constantly for Troy was healthy or dangerous.


    ¡°Awe, I wish someone would look at me like that,¡± said Jasmine while Troy and Arson approached the rest of their group. Arson snickered to himself when Jasmine flinched at Troy¡¯s raised pointer finger.


    ¡°Hey now, keep bullying me and I¡¯ll make all your clothing one size too small,¡± said Jasmine with a quick movement to step behind Khalif.


    ¡°Hey, keep me out of this!¡± Khalif looked toward Arson for help, but received a vague shrug as response.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the move here, boss?¡± asked Rob. The Chef wore a backpack that Arson could sense spacial runes on from a distance. Arson wondered if Rob had learned any new potions over the last day or so, but set aside his questions to explain what they¡¯d all be doing for the next three days.


    ¡°Raid Corp, ever heard of it?¡± Arson pulled free the coin his mother had given him and pressed down on the clockwise gateway inscription. His mother hadn¡¯t explained how to use the device, so Arson dropped it on the ground behind himself.


    ¡°Of course, I researched them a lot before you left, you¡¯d mentioned that you wanted BHC to become a raiding group eventually, so I looked up the best companies hired for, or involved with corporate espionage, Raid Corp is the 11th most contracted company in the entire realm,¡± said Khalif. The portal behind Arson poured out of the coin on the ground like gravity had reversed to pull a liquid energy from inside and form the portal. This portal unlike Jade¡¯s other portals, showed their destination before they even stepped through, a feature of Xani¡¯s rune craft and the inner workings of the coin she¡¯d constructed.


    ¡°Well, I learned that they have a test, a hidden kind of thing, most people think it¡¯s a rumor, but¡­¡± The image of the construction on the other side of the portal came into view as the portal completed. A sight that made Arson¡¯s friends gasp, and stare drop-jawed.


    ¡°But what? Why am I coming again? This seems dangerous,¡± said Jasmine. While Lane was only able to nod in agreement.


    A skyscraper, formed from many smaller buildings filled the landscape behind Arson. The peak of the structure could not be seen from where they were positioned, and Arson even felt a slight hesitation at the sight when he glanced over his shoulder to look.


    Countless cultivators could be seen in the distance in a rush toward the building. Some flew over the violence that could be seen between them and the building, while others seemed to revel in the chaos.


    The objective was to scale the Skyscraper. Some tried as individuals, or small groups, while others tried as entire combat units, or even armies.


    At the top of the structure, was the corporation¡¯s entire wealth supposedly. So thieves, gangs, other corporations, as well as truly prominent cultivators, and Sekts, all tried to storm the skyscraper constantly; for a fee of course.


    ¡°It is dangerous, filled with traps from the basement, all the way up to the second floor of the place,¡± said Khalif with a chuckle.


    ¡°From what you described, little buddy, didn¡¯t you just leave a sparked up situation like this a few days ago,¡± asked Xani, seemingly excited. Arson could see it in the way she¡¯d lifted off the ground slightly to hover, and the smile that she wore when building new devices being replicated across her face as her eyes flickered between the runic systems being used offensively and defensively on the other side of the portal.


    Arson glanced at Troy to see her also excited; as well as unaffected by Xani¡¯s words. It seemed that Troy only minded when terms of endearment were used to flirt in his direction. So his rival¡¯s use of, little buddy, was seen as sisterly, rather than anything provocative.


    You¡¯re thinking too much Arson, just focus on the task at hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. From what I know there aren¡¯t any large transportation or teleportation hurdles within the buildings, but that doesn¡¯t matter anyway, we aren¡¯t really going to be interacting with what you all see here anyway,¡± said Arson before he extended an elbow toward Troy. Once she grabbed him, the group followed Arson and her through the portal.


    Once through, Arson wondered if he¡¯d have to collect the coin for the return portal, or if it just stayed open for as long as they were away.


    He turned around to see the portal¡¯s display shift like a camera toward the ground. The view changed from a path home, to the coin that he¡¯d dropped.


    ¡°Well that¡¯s pretty cool,¡± thought Arson, only to be amazed further when the same liquid energy that had formed the portal originally warped itself again even before he could reach out.


    A hand was formed from the face of the portal, that reached out and plucked the object from the floor and pulled it through. A mirrored version of the hand then reached out to place the coin in Arson¡¯s own hand as he¡¯d naturally extended it palm up once he realized what was happening.


    The moment the coin touched his palm, all of the temporal energy used, was sucked back into the coin. The hand, portal, and even his way home, gone in an instant, leaving a coin lit only on its counterclockwise face.


    ¡°Sparks¡­ I know a lot of runes, but have no idea how the sparks she pulled that one off,¡± mumbled Arson to himself before he pocketed the coin and made a call on his watch.


    ¡°Hello, how may I help you,¡± asked a kind voice from his wrist.


    ¡°Hi, my name is Carter Gestalt, I have a reservation and would like to use my optional pickup service,¡± said Arson. He merely waved away the odd looks his friends gave him with the use of the alias he¡¯d created.


    He tried not to laugh out loud when Lane looked at Troy, and mouthed, ¡°optional pickup service¡±. Troy shrugged, but still looked in Arson¡¯s direction slightly confused as to what was happening.


    ¡°Yes sir, we have a vehicle in route already, you should see it shortly. Please don¡¯t bother to approach the perimeter walls or the entry lines, it is far easier to grab you and your group away from the masses and areal traffic,¡± responded the voice.


    ¡°Thank you. Are you my attendant or will I figure all that out later?¡± asked Arson with an accompanied point in the distance toward an aircraft. His friends looked in the distance and he finished up with the woman who introduced herself as Sprinter.


    ¡°Hey you, what did you do?¡± Arson felt his cheek get poked and looked down at Troy who wore her stern face. Glare, pressed lips, slightly flared nostrils, all signs that Arson needed to be careful with his answer.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to let your facial features manipulate me into ruining an obvious surprise, Troy, now fix your face before I make you do it with a kiss¡­¡± Arson then watched Troy try to keep the frown on her face, but snickered as her blush and smirk emerged.


    ¡°You¡¯ll give me wrinkles if I need to frown for you to want to kiss me,¡± said Troy under her breath. Arson rolled his eyes and moved toward the room sized hovercraft. The vehicle landed, and its tear shaped body opened to reveal a business professional with a metallic nameplate that read, Sprinter in a fanciful font.


    Arson could see Xani¡¯s eyes dissect the vehicle and didn¡¯t doubt that their own transportation services would improve drastically based on what she learned here.


    It wasn¡¯t until they¡¯d all entered the room, introduced themselves to Sprinter, and sat down in the lavish accommodations, that Arson remembered the twins that used to follow Jasmine around.


    They¡¯d even followed me for a time, I wonder what they got up too while I was gone?


    ¡°Hey Jazz, where the sparks are the twins?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re doing a tour of all the green zones in the dump with some other body guard trainees,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°Oh wow, I don¡¯t even think Troy and I ever tried that,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Nope, but I planned on doing it once we returned to nighttime training sessions,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Night time training, you still planned on doing that with me, I thought with how much success you gained from all those Pro-am fights that you¡¯d start looking for a professional trainer?¡±


    ¡°Ha, you¡¯re funny, but who¡¯s a better trainer than your mom, or who is better to train with than the person that a mother nature candidate is trying to make as powerful as possible, no wait I got a better one¡ª¡° Arson cut her off.


    ¡°I get it, I get it, but there is a reason why my mother is only a candidate, there are many powerful individuals that can bring you up to a new level, so don¡¯t close yourself off to any potential options, tunnel vision is only a boon when we don¡¯t let it shut out new experiences.¡± Silence filled the area, and when Arson looked around, everyone in the aircraft was looking at him.


    ¡°What? Did I say something strange? You guys are looking at me like I¡¯m an alien,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Come on man, you think we are going to get used to you going from a hyperactive child, to a seemingly disciplined young cultivator overnight,¡± asked Rob. Khalif nodded in agreement.


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been smart boss, but I¡¯d kinda gotten used to the unrefined version of you. Don¡¯t get me wrong, you¡¯ve moved me with words many times, but since you¡¯ve been back, you talk more like a Keeper than a kid, or even someone our age,¡± said Khalif. Arson¡¯s glance toward Sprinter prompted the woman to speak up, and Arson wondered if his apprehension to continue the conversation had flickered across his face.


    ¡°Your words here are private, sir, and though I agree that your words seem wise well beyond how old you appear, my opinions will not leave the bubble of your own social circle,¡± said Sprinter with a waved hand around at the group.


    Don¡¯t let your training lax just because you¡¯re comfortable, you must remain in control of the mask of your soul, Arson told himself mentally.


    He¡¯d sat with kings, played with princes, and kept a stern gaze even when faced with death. He may want to relax and enjoy himself, but the time for that would come later. Instead he needed to fix the comfortability that had been disrupted between the ones he loved the most.


    Now that we have finally made it, you can do exactly what you have always wanted to¡­


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, you¡¯ll get used to it, and now that we are here, you need to prepare yourselves for competition and¡­ spa treatments!¡± Arson rose to his feet and pointed out the window toward the resort as it came into view. The resort that Raid Corp used its excess funds to make excess funds.


    ¡°May I welcome you all to Coliseum,¡± said Sprinter.


    ¡°Here we offer luxury based on skill, each competitor must win to gain more comforts beyond the entry offered by your tickets,¡± The group took in the landscape, filled with thrill rides, water parks, and luxury.


    The aircraft approached, but before it could fly in to the area filled with attractions, they stopped mid air and descended toward a landing pad. A landing pad that instead proved to be an elevator¡­


    The group was lowered. The elevator moved down floor by floor, and the amazement and shock on the group faces changed into dread and despair.


    The scene around them transitioned from the lavished world they all wanted to be a part of, to an impoverished area that reminded them all of the city around the orphanage they¡¯d grown up in.


    ¡°Sprinter put a hand out to stop Arson before he could walk out of the aircraft. The woman aware of the disappointment his friends momentarily displayed. Arson hadn¡¯t missed it, but felt good when the woman checked in with him anyway.


    ¡°Are you sure you would like to start out this low sir, not many people who start down here are able to make it off this floor,¡± warned Sprinter. Arson looked around at his friends and then back at the Raid Corp employee with a huge smile.


    ¡°This floor has never had to stop, the Black Hole Corporation¡­¡± Nods came from each of his people, and Sprinter smiled back.


    ¡°Well then good luck, and may your path be, Endless¡­¡±

 Chapter 54: PUSH!

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Arson turned back around but the doors of the elevator had already begun to shut, and the tall cloaked figure that stood next to Sprinter smiled at Arson. The man¡¯s grin the only thing visible underneath his cowled red cloak.


    Arson couldn¡¯t help but glance at the timer in his overlay. The list of things he¡¯d be required to solve through his next set of trials left a weight on his mind. He¡¯d tried to ignore it since he left Endless, but apparently the stress of it all had left him slightly rattled.


    He didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d imagined the man, but the presence¡¯s familiarity made the back of Arson¡¯s mind itch from his crown¡¯s tip to the base of his cerebral realm.


    ¡°Hmm, I guess some things don¡¯t change. What¡¯s up, why are you stressed?¡± Troy¡¯s voice pulled Arson from his thoughts. His brow scrunched as he was confused by the root of the question being asked of him until Troy pointed just above his head.


    ¡°Your crown is showing. Actually began to wonder if you still had it until just then,¡± said Troy. Arson looked up to see the physical manifestation of his inner power and sighed.


    He¡¯d gotten it to the point where he only felt slightly nauseous without his crown out almost six season cycles ago, and knew that his core grew even if he didn¡¯t use it properly.


    ¡°Yeah, I wonder sometimes if I¡¯m hurting myself by hiding it so often,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Then stop hiding it, silly. It¡¯s not like even poor people aren¡¯t born with crowns for cores,¡± offered Troy in support.


    ¡°That look like mine, and drink in ambient mana, absolutely any type, without distinction?¡± Troy looked around momentarily, then nodded up at him.


    ¡°Better put it away for now, but please know that you should feel comfortable with the displaying of your core. I am not ashamed to be around you while it is out, orphaned by a king or not,¡± stated Troy with a grin. Arson pulled her into a hug she didn¡¯t refuse and after a moment, they separated and he turned toward his friends.


    ¡°So guys, this is where we are going to be for the next three days, maybe more if we haven¡¯t made it to the top floor by then, but the premiss is pretty simple, our group has a point total, the more points we have, the better our rooms become,¡± explained Arson.


    ¡°So how do we gain points?¡± asked Xani,.


    ¡°There are two types of events in this place, solo, and party. I have a few party events on this floor already scheduled later, but for now I¡¯d like you all to explore and see the types of solo events you can get entangled in before we all come together as a unit.¡±


    ¡°Holy crap! There are potion comps down here,¡± stated Rob. He¡¯d stepped away and began to scroll through a nearby terminal. The devices could be seen at the ends of every block in any direction Arson looked, alongside street vendors, stalls and a few larger shops.


    The open area had an artificial sky above, filled by a sunset and stars even visible through the almost daytime effect being simulated. A sight that made Arson want to fly even though he knew there would be a roof above to eventually stop his ascent.


    ¡°Is there stuff for all of us to do?¡± asked Jasmin. Arson could see her hesitation to figure out how things worked, but knew that he¡¯d picked the right place for his entire group to both grow as individuals and come together as a team.


    Even before he¡¯d left, they hadn¡¯t truly been forced into a situation where they had to work together to complete a task. So if Arson would one day rely on his friends as he envisioned, they would have to become as reliable as Micro and the Pocket Apartment members, or more.


    ¡°What are you going to get into while we explore? Any events that you are interested in doing alone?¡± asked Khalif. Arson spun slowlytoward a large crowd of people and gestured toward someone standing on a small stage in front the group.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be placing bets on whatever you guys get into, the more bets I win, the faster we go up in floors, I think there are 13 in total,¡± answered Arson. The others nodded and he hugged Troy before he started off down the road.


    He first needed to gain some points to start betting with and had a few ideas on how he could get enough to make an impact. He needed enough points to support a group, and normal events wouldn¡¯t be sufficient.


    After he stopped to check a terminal to make sure he was heading in the right direction; he quickly found himself in front of two massive doors. A line of people extended from a pair of guards, which Arson ran passed.


    Murmurs started at his actions and one of the guards shook his head. The event was notorious for ending with cultivators bloodied and ruined, and since Arson was the one who approached the doors, they knew it was he who signed up for the event named, Skeletal Horde.


    The two massive doors opened up and Arson ran in. The attendees behind him were also allowed to enter and quickly headed toward the arena seating all around the desert plain Arson ran into.


    ¡°Hello, Hello, Hello, and welcome! Most of you here know what is about to go down, but some of you are unaware, so let me, your brilliant host tell the minority what is about to happen,¡± said a loud voice that echoed through the area around Arson.


    ¡°I, the magnificent Bobby, am going to let our chosen victim below, Carter Gestalt, pick a weapon, and then he will be faced with summoning portals connected to a skeletal underworld,¡± yelled Bobby the announcer and the growing crowd erupted into cheers.


    ¡°Now just as a reminder for our guest, if you kill skeletons, you get points, manage to destroy smaller portals, more points, kill what comes out of larger portals, doubtful, but yeah, points¡­¡±


    Arson ran through the plain passed many swords, daggers, hammers, maces, and many more exotic weaponry. Yet in the end he settled on a basic two-handed scythe that he kicked into his hand from the ground and spun around his body to test.


    ¡°And of course we all know the number one rule, no mana allowed, and don¡¯t forget that if you fall into one of the summoning portals, we aren¡¯t coming after you to save you, dude. At best, we¡¯ll send in some cameras to watch you get slaughtered. Sparks¡­ did I miss anything?¡±


    ¡°No, let¡¯s hurry this up,¡± yelled Arson over his shoulder.


    ¡°Wow, show a crash dummy some hospitality and they spit right in your face. Well, victim, good luck, I mean, Carter Gestalt,¡± said Bobby with the addition of an odd accent to his surname.


    Arson raised the symbol for, Ok above his head and watched the first portal come into view. A rune warped into the air, only to transform into a rip in reality. The distortion widened and spat out skeletons like poured water, and a notification popped up into Arson¡¯s view.


    Fearless title triggered, what was once minor, now has magnitude: Survive long enough to kill a horde leader: 1/3.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Holy sparks! What is going on with the controls, Henry!¡± Bobbies voice cracked in a panic of alarm, as every bit of available mana to the area was pushed into the mechanisms for the summoning portals.


    ¡°You got something to do with this,¡± asked Arson with a tap on his wrist to wake Anastasia.


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame this on me, you saw that notification, your title triggered. Why¡¯d you pick that crazy sparking title anyway? Took your mom a century to get rid of it,¡± said Anastasia. Arson sighed heavily and stretched.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­,¡± stated Arson simply.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s bad¡­,¡± responded Anastasia. Arson cracked his neck and knuckles, before he took a readied stance, and extended the scythe he held.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡­


    Rob walked into the small shop to see 100 or so tables filled with alchemy equipment. Only a few of the tables remained empty. So Rob quickly found his way toward one of those, and found it strange when people gazed at his choice.


    The equipment being offered was uncommon for most to see as new alchemist, so most decided to use the potentially higher quality. Only those with ridiculous backing brought their own materials and preferred their own equipment; their backers usually a grade above the rest.


    Am I one of those people now¡­? Naa¡­


    Rob began to take his tools out of his spacial bag, while he also read the rules for the competition.


    ¡°What am I making here? Seems like a basic healing potion¡¯s sparked up, little brother. Why would I even add that? Do these people want people¡¯s blood cells to explode¡­¡± After Rob analyzed the entire list of ingredients, looked around at his competition again and laughed at how many botched potions he could see at a distance, he merely shook his head and began.


    He didn¡¯t care that he came in halfway through the timed interval. Nor that he used his own fresh ingredients, rather than the wilted plant life offered. What Rob cared about was his process.


    From that point on, Rob¡¯s inner chef was stirred from the depths and took over.


    The larger cauldron he used took up most of the table, which left him with not much of an area to work with. Acceptable for some, but not for Rob.


    Without a second thought Rob managed to slide another table toward his own and spread his tools out further. He was unaware that the table weighed a ton, but his consistent potion usage had had more than a few effects on his body and mind.


    One being the physical changes that added to his strength and dexterity, but even less obvious were the addictive qualities of the bodily improvements. Rob still wore his rebreather, and hadn¡¯t tasted natural air in almost half a fortnight.


    This was due to a secondary effect caused by the water breathing potions he made. After the duration of the potions extended passed the half a day threshold, Rob started to notice how fast his thoughts moved after being under the potions effects for more than a day.


    Additionally he had cut himself in the kitchen, and watched the cut close visibly. Where he would have once been exhilarated and proud of himself; he was now a part of a group of geniuses that made his feat feel minor, even as incredible as it truly was.


    Once Rob ran of out of space, he pulled another empty table to work on, but before he could grab an additional one, a trend had begun and others around had taken up the rest of the available surfaces. Rob reevaluated his competition, and laughed at the changes.


    Many had realized that their first potions were botched. The list of partial accurate ingredients had started a chainedset of explosions fated to occur since the beginning. Rob snickered to himself, pulled another table from his spacial bag to the amazement of almost everyone inside the small shop, and continued to brew the health potion being requested.


    ¡­


    ¡°Next!¡± Xani yelled the single word on repeat. Each time she repaired an item, she immediately called for the next person. She had no idea how many points she¡¯d acquired since she¡¯d last checked, but had no intention of stopping until she was either told she couldn¡¯t work anymore, or was told to stop by Arson.


    It¡¯d be a waste of time you could have used to catch up to that monster, thought Xani.


    Xani had entered a repair shop full of mechanics, engineers, craftsmen of a large variety and even a few specialists.


    Points were rewarded by how many repair tickets were completed. Once an item was returned, the quantity of points equated to the value of the repair given by the master inspectors hired by Raid Corp was deposited into their groups account.


    Xani refused to look at the points a second time as whatever Arson was doing to make their group points never seemed to stop. Their names were stacked in an ascending order from lowest to highest points, and her bosses points rose like the numbers on a stop watch.


    She¡¯d thought that she¡¯d be able to keep up with him easily. No crafter near to her completed as many tasks as she had since she¡¯d arrived.


    Weapons, armors, trinkets and even runic talismans, were reforged, polished, and infused with restorative manas like an assembly line behind Xani.


    While she herself took in the orders, two robotic hands she¡¯d made to mimic Arson¡¯s own worked on the table behind her.


    Though the rune work required her direct attention, everything else was worked on by her extra hands.


    ¡°Sparks BossLady, leave some for the little guy,¡± yelled another competitor a few tables down from Xani. Her line grew as fast as it shortened, which only drew more patrons at a faster rate. No one wanted to wait, nor had anyone complained about the repairs. In fact some noted improvements¡­


    I¡¯m a crafter, just because you hand me trash, doesn¡¯t mean I can return it as such, undamaged or not.


    ¡°Next!¡±


    Khalif watched Xani¡¯s points start to shoot up drastically, before Rob momentarily eclipsed them all in points. The young man received a massive sum of points at once, then smaller lump sums every few moments in random intervals from that point on.


    How quickly his teammates gained points made him wonder if the choice he¡¯d made to bounty hunt was the best idea. It may take him much longer to find targets, but luckily for him there were dozens of places marked on the local terminals to start.


    Khalif scoped out an apartment building, filled from top to bottom with illegal competitors. The cultivators within the building were either in debt point-wise, or had stayed in Coliseum for longer than their ticket permitted.


    This bounty stuff better pay big if I¡¯m going to be able to pay my own way like the others, thought Khalif to himself. He only was rewarded a tenth of what each cultivator owed, or double the overall ticket cost of the time the overstays would have had to pay.


    To receive the points bounty, he had to successfully tag the cultivator with a tracking chip, for which he¡¯d been given a handgun with more than 1000 available rounds. What made his task difficult, was that the chips could only be activated when placed in one of three locations on the body. The carotid artery, or neck. The back of the neck, or spinal cord. Or finally, the temples.


    Khalif wasn¡¯t a good shot, but with what he had planned, he didn¡¯t think he would have to be.


    The only other issue he¡¯d been warned about when the bounty office gave him the ID safe gun, was that it would only fire at people the pinprick cameras identified as illegal competitors. So he should be wary of legal competitors mixed in, some would defend illegal competitors that worked for them, or even owed them points.


    ¡°¡±Let¡¯s make this quick, gotta lot of stops to make.¡±


    Khalif dropped into his own shadow; the minor teleportation able to transport him across the street, and into a bathroom he saw on the second floor. He landed in a crouch on the back of the toilet tank, in the same moment a young man rose from his seated position on the toilet.


    The young man bent to pick up his trousers and before he could even pull up his zipper, Khalif touched the barrel of his handgun to the back of his neck and pulled the trigger.


    The tracking chip slammed into the cultivator with a punch that took him off his feet, and sent incredible amounts of electricity through his body.


    Khalif hadn¡¯t expected the power behind the shot, so didn¡¯t expect the body of the cultivator to slam up against the bathroom door. In the end he was fast enough to catch the body before it hit the floor, but not enough to stop the initial slam it¡¯d made.


    ¡°You good in there, I¡¯m gonna be pissed if you fell asleep on the toilet after I told you I gotta drop one bad, dude, come on!¡± Khalif moved to the door as the person outside continued to yell and banged on the door in a hurry to get inside.


    The door was whipped open by Khalif, who then jammed his pistol into the startled cultivators neck before they could react and once more pulled the trigger.


    The person was sent off their feet and fell against a nearby wall into a puddle of limbs and their own slowly expelled waste.


    ¡°Hmmm, that¡¯s way more points than I thought I¡¯d be getting. What are the higher floors like?¡± said Khalif as he stepped over the seizing bounty he¡¯d just tagged and kicked in another door with the handgun raised at the ready.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get up on my account, I¡¯m just here to pick up the trash, no I can do better than that, let me try again¡­ don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯m just¡­ oh whatever, eat sparks!


    ¡­


    ¡°Work it, work it, work it!¡± Jasmine and Lane had somehow found themselves a part of a dance competition. Or it had been, then they were interviewed which led to them presenting for a streetwear fashion show.


    ¡°Hey, should we do the singing competition or the talent show next?¡± asked Jasmine.


    ¡°I know you want to do those, but seriously, sister, this sensual voice actors one will probably get us an outrageous amount of points. It¡¯s labeled as the seventh highest viewed event down here under other crazy sparking spectacles like Skeletal Horde, and Rampage, who the sparks is crazy enough to join an event called sparking Rampage for maiden¡¯s sake?¡±


    Jasmine lifted Lane¡¯s chin from the Terminal they were both standing at, until her eyes saw one screen with Arson rushing into a portal that seemed to vomit skeletons like an exorcism victim, and another screen where Troy destroyed as many buildings as possible using a great hammer as a timer ticked down in the corner of the screen.


    ¡°See, we gotta go big Jazz. You and me doing sexy voice dubs over kung fu movies is sure to get a few laughs. I promise, please, please, pretty please, please?¡±


    Jasmine didn¡¯t have to take long to consider what Lane stated as potentially a good idea. Not only because Lane had a talent for hyping up practically any crowd, but also because even Khalif had started to shoot up in points out of the blue.


    One second, he had a whopping zero, the next, he, Xani and Rob all fluctuated between 3rd, 4th, and 5th place. While Arson and Troy shifted between first and second constantly.


    ¡°Spark it, rock paper scissors for who gets to play the female lead,¡± said Jasmine as she lifted both hands, a fist held in her opposing palm in preparation.


    ¡°You are on!¡±

 Chapter 55: Raid Corp Competitors

    ¡°What do you think of her,¡± asked one of the grandmasters in the viewing room. The space they were in had 21 sides, each side a large wall filled with screens of events held on corresponding floors.


    The martial combat expert who¡¯d spoken stood next to his oldest rival in front of the wall of screens linked to the lowest floor. Both men lost interest in cultivators beyond the lowest levels, as most who made it beyond the first, were either extremely talented, or lucky and would probably be swallowed whole long before they made it where they now stood.


    ¡°Yeah, I noticed her too, never seen someone use light mana so destructively, aren¡¯t most of their type healers and the like,¡± asked one master to the other.


    ¡°For sure, but you know better than me how using basic manas in exotic ways can be more than beneficial for growth, wait what do you mean you noticed her too, who has caught your eye?¡±


    ¡°This kid over here, Carter something,¡± One master stepped away from the screen he watched filled with a girl on a demolition rampage, and over to his rival to see what had caught the man off guard.


    ¡°His rival rarely stayed in front of a singular screen ever, but had made an obvious exception for some reason.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that challenge have a mana lock on it,¡± asked the master when he stepped closer to see the young man named Carter Gestalt spin through a sea of bones and violence.


    ¡°I may bet on him to make it off the ground floors and up here to the sky suites,¡± mumbled one master to the other. The other man nodded, and glanced back at the girl he¡¯d watched wrecking a city block built to stand the might of powerful cultivators of many shapes and sizes.


    ¡°Sparks, I think I¡¯ll put money on your guy, and this beam of sunlight over here too¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, how about we make it interesting, pick one, the boy or girl, and whichever one makes it up first, if they even manage to make it at all, wins, then you or I will pay for the others next time extension ticket,¡± prompted the grandmaster¡¯s rival in challenge.


    The two performed a handshake as confirmation of their bet, and both received a notification that symbolized the contractual legitimacy of their spoken wager.


    ¡°May the best cultivator win my old friend.¡±


    ¡­


    Troy found herself in the middle of a dilapidated hotel, that had once been pristine. Recently in fact; as its current state was completely accomplished in a matter of moments.


    Troy didn¡¯t know she had such a talent for demolition, but with each load baring wall she destroyed like her weapon was magnetized toward the architectural supports, she knew.


    ¡°Should I do this for stress relief,¡± asked Troy aloud to herself in contemplation. The roof rained down around her and she knocked away chunks of the structure rather than be enveloped by dust and debris.


    ¡°She was glad that she¡¯d found an event that offered her massive amounts of points for a simple task. Well simple for her at least.


    She¡¯d started to practice filling things struck by her weapons with unstable light mana that caused atoms to split. This caused most of what she hit with her hammer during the event to disintegrate like cotton candy.


    Why she needed as many points as feasible, and as fast as possible¡­ her boyfriend of course.


    The young man stated that he would be placing bets to win their money, but hadn¡¯t mentioned the literal army he¡¯d decided to fight to get some starting capitol. Yes, he could have waited for the others to get them for him, but instead, took action as always.


    Shouldn¡¯t have been surprised, Arson couldn¡¯t sit down even if there was money on the line and all he had to do was stay seated.


    Troy chuckled to herself, and pushed her Overlay notifications aside. She was prompted every time she and Arson swapped places for the number one position on their team for points. Which at first had fueled Troy to push harder, until she got a message from Lane stating that Arson was in some sort of event where he couldn¡¯t use mana or he¡¯d be disqualified.


    The words had taken the wind from her sails instantly. So instead of trying to beat Arson, she pushed to enjoy herself.


    ¡°And another one down, and another one down, and another one falls to dust,¡± sang Troy. She got into a groove after a while and hadn¡¯t realized that the main cameras for her event followed her every action.


    Viewers watched as the areas long unused, or refurnished improperly were turned to ruins. Buildings made to withstand tornados, toppled in a single swing.


    Troy had a catch phrase for each building she made smash into another and it quickly caught on with the viewership, ¡°Timber!¡±


    Ten story buildings crumpled like stacks of improperly placed building blocks for children; sometimes even more than one at a time were made to fall.


    Troy¡¯s catchphrase could then be heard echoed across the lower floor in the aftermath of each destroyed piece of architecture, and even some entirely separate events paused to join in the cheer that came with each explosive demise.


    She reached a state of zen, and in a moment of inspiration tapped into her newest ability.


    The vortex of light absorption and expulsion formed around Troy. The energy intensified when she spun, great hammer in hand, like a powerfully shaped mixing device made to twist reality.


    An entire block vanished in three complete rotations , and the audience went wild across the first floor at the sight, and her points sky rocketed.


    ¡°Hmm, maybe I can win, even if you aren¡¯t using any sparking mana Arson, how that¡¯s even possible with the level of challenges being presented down here, I have no idea¡­¡± thought Troy with a sigh and a shrug.


    ¡°Come on Troy, a win is a win, he chose his event, and you chose yours, winning some artificial battle in your head to be better than your friends won¡¯t make you do any better, just push yourself and see where this goes¡­!¡±


    ¡­


    Arson was having a blast. The skeletal armies that poured out from the dozen portals he actively chose not to close kept Arson in motion without end.


    The scythe in his hands flashed in what seemed to audience members to be multiple directions at once.


    What they were unaware of was how much Arson favored the weapon. Having had used one so often throughout his early teens, he could no longer be considered average or commonplace in regards to his scythe use. He was instead, quite talented.


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    So much in fact that he wondered if his usage of the scythe could be considered a magical ability. He felt that with the weapon in hand a sense of his surroundings was given with each swing. It wasn¡¯t as precise as his closed eye dominion by any means, but there was a reason Arson¡¯s Reaper Gestalt form, wielded a scythe when summoned.


    Arson spun through the first few dozen easily in the beginning. Every dozen breaths another small rip appeared, and gave more skeletons a new vantage point to emerge from.


    The situation continued to escalate. Arson soon became enclosed by spacial rips and a flood of bone creatures.


    ¡°People, I don¡¯t know who this guy pissed off upstairs, but he¡¯s sparked, for real, can we be sued for foul play on this one, Henry¡­,¡± yelled Bobby the announcer.


    Arson gained momentum, seemingly to the audience as quickly as the scales grew around him.


    He moved with the intention to only use enough energy to survive the next moment. This would train his reactionary combat abilities, and with his self created Flicker Stance; a single movement could result in dozens of deaths.


    This was what gave the appearance that he could die at any moment. Movements only made when as many enemies as possible were within his reach, before he extended his weapon wide.


    The wide sweeps of Arson¡¯s stance were created to replicate the speed and flexibility of a dagger, and offer the same power potential and range as a great sword.


    The added hook like effect the weapon gave Arson was utilized in ways that made the crowd gasp in awe of the wielder.


    Some enemies were caught and pulled from the air when they used their fellow skeletons¡¯ piled-up bodies to jump high above Arson to attack.


    While others were pulled off their feet, Arson¡¯s blade weaved in between leg bones, before he launched foes into the air. He¡¯d even managed to use this method to block a few of the skeletons who jumped from above.


    Aerial collisions occurred by the handful, but most were instead sliced in half or were even instantly bisected with blurred flashes of movements Arson performed as simply as single steps forward.


    Arson had loved the weapon since he first tried it, but felt he would never catch up to the individual that first inspired him to use it. His grandfather was one of many individuals who used a scythe, and though Arson loved his talent for it, he still wanted to recreate his family¡¯s lost weapon, and felt he¡¯d only just begun to grasp a potential start to the process. Still¡­


    ¡°Bring it on!¡± An explosion of force boomed outward. He spun 360 degrees in an instant at the center of the horde,. A wave of pressure rippled out from the slice in a torrent of devastation that eviscerated all the summoning portals that surrounded him.


    ¡°Holy sparks folks, this guy is an absolute issue for these skeletons, but this staging area must be broken if you expect me to believe that he didn¡¯t just use mana to do that!¡±


    Arson grinned. The attack gave him a moment to look around at his environment. Every foe even beyond the physical reach of his weapon had been crushed by his last attack.


    The attack indeed hadn¡¯t used any mana, but what it had done was crack the shaft of the weapon he held, which made Arson sigh with sorrow. It was the same problem with every scythe he used, they could never stand up to the requirements mandatory for Flicker Stance¡¯s use.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope you last long enough to get me out of this jam, little lady,¡± thought Arson with a firm grip on the scythe in an attempt to physically hold it together by will and force alone.


    A resonance occurred in that moment. Arson committed himself to the weapon¡¯s use, and in the same breath was also chosen.


    A strange energy filled the sky above Arson and soon images of scythe wielders of many different varieties and types could be seen. Mana converged above to paint the sky with images of those who¡¯d truly affected reality through their use of the weapon Arson currently gave his all too.


    The first large portal was ripped open in front of Arson and without a single thought, he dashed forward, ¡°I¡¯ll show you what it truly means to be fearless System, one step at a time!¡±


    ¡°Really think it¡¯s a good idea to taunt the system while charging through a hell-mouth, kiddo?¡±


    ¡°Not now, Ana!¡±


    ¡°Aww you shortened my name, we can be friends now, yay,¡± said Anastasia with exaggerated excitement to show her displeasure. Her continual displeasure at Arson¡¯s choice to risk both of their existences constantly, by rushing toward danger for nothing more than excitement and wealth alone.


    ¡°Ha, don¡¯t act like you don¡¯t love this!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t, I just find it slightly amusing is all¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah well, looks like the odds are going to be stacked against me now, so either help out or shut up, this isn¡¯t as easy as I make this look.¡±


    Anastasia laughed and nodded on his wrist, before she started to scan the new area he¡¯d rushed into.


    The Coliseum cameras followed behind Arson and revealed a medieval city, filled to the absolute brim with skeletal humanoids, beasts and even winged nightmares.


    The audience that paid to watch the event, started to share video clips of what was being recorded by Raid Corp, and without Arson¡¯s knowledge, he broke into the top 1000 most viewed events offered by Raid Corp, viewable on their company¡¯s mane stream page for any and all to see.


    ¡°Southwest incoming,¡± yelled Anastasia from Arson¡¯s wrist. He turned with a two handed grip on the base of the scythe and completely the opposite direction from where he¡¯d been charging and swung.


    The large skeletal drake that had dove toward his rear, was slapped out of the sky by the scythe he extended toward its head blade first.


    He knew he would have sliced the creatures head in half if it was made of flesh and blood, but it was instead sent at high speeds toward a herd that attempted to flank and chase down Arson while he moved forward.


    He wouldn¡¯t stop until his weapon broke, or there was nothing left to stand in his way. The images in the sky growing more vibrant as he pushed his skills further than he ever had before.


    ¡°Come on!¡±


    ¡­


    Although Arson and Troy were able to make an exceptionally large amount of points rather quickly. It was Jasmine and Lane who ended up being the first ones to make it off the first floor.


    Not by choice, but by force.


    Lane¡¯s idea to dub a series of old karate movies, exploded¡­


    Lane found and bought the rights to a series with literal thousands of episodes, and their work began.


    The change from the seriousness the original show offered had been converted into a single episode to test how their idea would work¡­ at first.


    Then when they ran the first few moments and were applauded with cheers and laughter during both the sensual voice actor gag event, and the talent show first place was given to them; both girls knew they had something.


    Between Jasmine and Lane who fed easily off one another¡¯s energy, ten more episodes were made in no time. Those episodes were no challenge for them and once they got into a refined process through practice, they sent 3 more episodes to Raid Corp to use, and were immediately contracted to give them 100 episodes before the end of their stay, with 45% royalties split between the two of them.


    ¡°How long until you think the others come up here,¡± asked Lane in a hot tub. They had managed a dozen episodes beyond their original ten, and took a break as they watched their point total start to resemble Arson¡¯s as the number ticked upward with every blink of time that passed.


    ¡°Not long, darling, not long at all¡­¡± Jasmines voice vibrated with each mini karate chop the masseuse performed down her body while she read over the lines they¡¯d created for the next section of their show.


    ¡°Holy sparks, I think you are right, have you seen Khalif and Rob¡¯s points recently?¡± Jasmine refocused her gaze on the section of her Overlay that presented her teams points as individuals and as a whole.


    ¡°I get how Rob is making that many points, but what the sparks is Khalif doing¡­?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, he¡¯s Arson¡¯s right hand man, we can only expect something crazy from anything tied to our boss,¡± responded Lane with a sip from her wine glass filled with sparkling juice.


    ¡°Mmhmm, wait what are you trying to say, I¡¯m connected to him and so are you¡­?¡± Lane simply shrugged and snickered at Jasmine¡¯s feelings toward the perceived slight.


    ¡°Yeah, like I said absolutely bonkers.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Look man just don¡¯t¡ª¡° Khalif cut off the young woman¡¯s plea with a computer chip to the side of the head. The force of the shot from the handgun knocked her out of a window on the fifth flor and Khalif rushed to see the girl hit the ground hard.


    ¡°Holy sparks, gonna count myself lucky she wasn¡¯t one of those frail magic types.¡± The girl got to her feet and rubbed the impact point, before she gave a rude gesture up toward Khalif.


    ¡°Yeah yeah, pay ya bills, woman!¡±


    He¡¯d made it pretty high up the first building he¡¯d entered, but the amount of stealth required to gain more bounties had quintupled.


    Security on the first few levels had been a joke, but now his progress had slowed drastically. Not his point total, but his upward ascent was now a dead crawl.


    Between the security doors, legal security guards that the chip gun didn¡¯t work on, and the pressure of watching his friends own points sky rocket upward, Khalif was a little frustrated. Then he got a message from Rob that made him laugh. Apparently the young man had been forced to become a judge for the event he¡¯d taken part in, and wasn¡¯t able to make potions fast enough to keep up with demand.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been forced to take on two of the people I beat as helpers, but the points are good, how goes it on your end,¡± read Khalif under his breath while he sat in an awkward position.


    Khalif had shimmied up between two parallel walls in a random hall way . His legs extended straight out from his center, with his feet flat up against the wall across from him and his back against the wall behind him.


    He sat comfortably high enough up that cultivators managed to walk beneath him without a clue that he was perched above them casually texting on his flatscreen.


    ¡°It''s good. Wish I had some higher valued targets, but most of these idiots aren¡¯t even smart enough to look up when they enter a room,¡± mumbled Khalif as he typed Rob back. Before he could even finish his message another person walked below him, directly in the opening of the door he hid above.


    Khalif paused in his typing, aimed, fired at the man¡¯s temple and watched as the third person he¡¯d tagged that way was sent inside the closet below him. He then returned to his message before receiving a surprise.


    ¡°Its fine though I¡¯ll eventually find¡­ what¡­ Sparks! How many sparking points was that dude worth!¡± yelled Khalif in shock.


    He¡¯d surpassed Xani and Rob with that last successful chipping. This struckKhalif with the question as to how anyone could either be in as much debt as his previous target. Or manage to evade the masses of cultivators that took on the bounty hunter jobs offered in the Coliseum resort as a whole; for as long as it would take to extend such a huge windfall in his direction as he¡¯d just received.


    ¡°Yo, I see you, boy, find a big fish,¡± read Khalif; before he dropped down from above and texted a response to Rob.


    ¡°One of hopefully many to come, my guy, one of many to come.¡±

 Chapter 56: Influential Kidnappings

    Arson walked out of the portal he¡¯d entered with sweat covering his body from head to toe. Cracks formed from tip to base of the scythe he still held, and those who had bet on his survival celebrated, as the majority was silenced to a stunned silence.


    ¡°You should be dead,¡± said Bobby the announcer in a state of shock rather than a cool and practiced stage whisper. The professional had watched alongside many others Arson¡¯s seemingly simple accomplishment.


    He had almost died many times, as Arson felt one of his greatest weaknesses was a potential beheading, many of which he barely dodged during his recent, workout¡­


    Didn¡¯t know that my title made it so that the mana lock on the event actually prevented me from using mana entirely. Though his face was stoic, he barely kept the tremble from his fingertips. This was the first time he¡¯d felt so close to his own demise in his life, yet he knew it to be far from the truth.


    He was forced to acknowledge that no matter how much power he gained, or weaknesses he overcame, the system could distort the rules around his reality in a fatal war.


    ¡°At the drop of a hat, you¡¯ve run into a trap¡­,¡± said Anastasia softly on his wrist. The words echoed loudly in his ears even through the cheers and above the roar of his own thoughts.


    Think,¡± said Arson to himself. The word enough to jar him free of the dread of the anxiety he felt at the thought of his own death.


    ¡°Analyze,¡± said Arson. Able to move against the fear that had frozen him in place. He took a step forward. A single deep breath accompanied every further step made; he couldn¡¯t help but notice how long it took before his breathing became passive once more.


    ¡°Move¡­,¡± stated Arson as he smiled wide, and lifted the OK symbol for the crowd and announcer once more.


    In that moment even those that had bet against him, had chosen to cheer for him. For what they had just seen would be worthy of praise on any floor of Coliseum.


    ¡°Khalif, are overstays, and large debts your only targets?¡± asked Arson. He hadn¡¯t chosen to speak over the coms until that moment, but once he did his entire group flooded in.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m hunting down the Sharks now,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°What is a Shark exactly, and what did I miss?¡± asked Troy. Arson laughed to himself as he exited the event area and strolled away from the masses that celebrated in the arena behind him.


    ¡°Sharks are clients who buy low entry tickets, corner a piece of the market down here, and stop the availability of certain normally accessible goods and services by only allowing for their people to take place in specific events,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. Jasmine, Lane, continue to climb the floors, everyone else keep doing what you¡¯re doing down here, going to see if I can get us some free points, but don¡¯t forget the joint event here soon,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°What do you want me and Jazz on while you guys are at the joint event,¡± asked Lane.


    ¡°Spread the word, get more people to watch our events, even if they aren¡¯t normally broadcast,¡± responded Arson softly while he approached the betting stands.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t I like some of these requests you are making, Arson you better not¡ª Explosions came through Troy¡¯s end of the coms and stopped her speech.


    ¡°Sparking round started up, don¡¯t think you are getting off without letting me know what you are planning, dude!¡± Troy¡¯s voice came through the coms, surrounded by the sounds of shattering glass and crumbling walls.


    ¡°Oh yeah, Rob, can I get some health potions?¡±


    ¡­


    Rob watched Arson walk into the elite shot for the first floor. He began to hear murmurs about an unfamiliar event with skeletons, and figured Arson had done something outside the norm, and left it at that.


    ¡°How goes it in here, need some extra help?¡± Arson approached with a smile and a death grip on a scythe. Rob could feel a strange energy coming from the weapon and had to shake his head to free himself from the overwhelming sensation that started to make his head hurt.


    ¡°Yeah, I could use some help, my line keeps getting longer for some reason, not like I haven¡¯t seen others mimicking many aspects of my process already, there¡¯s plenty of good¡ªRob stopped talking when he saw the alchemists he¡¯d taken on to help him begin to shake their heads.


    ¡°What, why do you two keep doing that, every time I say that others have perfectly good potions up for offer, you two shake your heads, I mean I¡¯d sparking drink a lot of what is being offered myself in here,¡± stated Rob honestly. Arson was interested in knowing what was going on as well. Rob¡¯s line did seem abnormally long, and had no signs of going down.


    ¡°You really must be new to this, so I guess I¡¯ll just have to put this into simple terms, your product currently has no byproduct, residue, nothing, it goes down, feeds the body and that¡¯s it, no left over toxins that need to be purged from our bodies after being used, honestly I¡¯m beginning to wonder if most of these orders are from Raid Corp individuals themselves just buying up inventory to use themselves or sell for much higher later,¡± said Rob¡¯s assistant. Arson¡¯s eyes widened and he looked over at Rob.


    ¡°Did you appraise or have any of the completed potions appraised before you started to sell them,¡± asked Arson as he picked up a bottle off the table. Rob merely shook his head.


    ¡°Nope, won the competition, and they had me judge a few rounds before they gave me this booth in the elite shop,¡± said Rob. Rob watched his boss squint at the potion, open his mouth to speak, and nothing come out.


    Instead of a response, Rob felt a frown take over his facial features, when Arson swept his hand through the air above his potions, taking them all in a single motion.


    ¡°What the sparks buddy that¡¯s all my inventory, you can¡¯t leave me with at least enough to sell while these two make more?¡± asked Rob both confused and alarmed by Arson¡¯s actions.


    ¡°No¡­, you¡¯re selling these potions at a one hundredth their value, I should slap you around but would be too worried to hurt BHC¡¯s newest cash cow,¡± said Arson low enough for Rob to hear. The laughter in Arson¡¯s voice the only thing that told Rob, Arson was only semi-serious.


    ¡°You know that we can just change the prices, you didn¡¯t have to stop the flow of sales like that, isn¡¯t that worst for business,: asked Rob. Arson smiled and nodded. Then placed a single type of each potion back on the table.


    The aggression had rained in from the line of potential customers instantly, when Arson had simply walked behind the counter, and seemingly stolen Rob¡¯s wares, but when the potion-maker didn¡¯t panic or complain, murmurs began.


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    ¡°Sorry all, demands from higher up, we got major price increases on all product coming, I know, I know, it is real sparked up, but a ten percent discount on anyone who brings someone else with them to purchase when we open back up shortly,¡± said Arson with his arms spread wide toward the crowd as he spoke. He interacted with them as Rob thought Lane would, and watched as Arson¡¯s words turned a groups problem, into excitement with a smile.


    ¡°Get your people back on however the sparks you made these, we are going to need the rest for the event we are all about to join,¡± whispered Arson over his shoulder. Rob nodded, and with an air-bubble-filled chuckle from his rebreather, got back to work, while Arson filled him in on what was to come. The longer he spoke, the more Rob was convinced the young angry boy he¡¯d once known, had been replaced with an older, mad version of himself.


    ¡°Wait¡­ you want me to what now?¡± asked Rob when his portion of Arson¡¯s plan for the next event came into the forefront of Arson¡¯s explanation.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to make low grade poisons to serve like liquor, that stimulate and refine the body while getting cultivators drunk,¡± repeated Arson casually.


    ¡°You want me to lace refinement potions¡­¡± Rob watched Arson take time to rethink his plans. He¡¯d framed his question in hopes to give Arson perspective on how his actions could be seen as potentially bad, but instead the further time to think only seemed to invigorate the strength of the idea within his friend¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Yup¡­ Get Xani and Jasmine to design and craft a label for the alcohol, what do you think of Robbery refinements?¡±


    ¡­


    Ash and her siblings had a new perspective on their younger brother. The rumors that Cro of the Apartment Village being trained by Arson was a shock. A shock their father loved, but affected each of their siblings differently.


    Autumn laughed when Ash realized during one of the many conversations their family had on the subject, that Arson had indeed kept his word. He hadn¡¯t attacked her during the event, within proximity of the predetermined, safe zone, nor had he even been there.


    ¡°Why do you look sad, it¡¯s not like he stripped you of your honor,¡± said Ash. Aura sat in the joint living room of her and her siblings with a frown. She looked around at her brothers and sisters, and sighed.


    ¡°Sorry guys, I know that I¡¯m normally all for family vacation, but this year feels off. Mom is doing her emo destroy the world thing, and Dad is up on the sky island for betting which means there is probably something going on worth checking out on the lower levels,¡± responded Aura vaguely. Her siblings knew her and all shared glances before Ash chose to speak up.


    ¡°So¡­ why don¡¯t you just go and check out the lower levels, not like you don¡¯t have the points to spend on your ticket,¡± said Ash. Auto nodded and picked up his flatscreen off the table to look over some of the upcoming events and popular broadcasts.


    ¡°I was thinking of headed down myself to check some of the build comps this season cycle, heard a buzz about some new group of competitors making a stir on the lower floors,¡± said Auto. Then Aura growled and crossed her arms, which caused Axis to speak up.


    ¡°What¡¯s got you all sparked up, sis, you have been like that since we got here, and you are honestly starting to kill my buzz, even Ash isn¡¯t as ruffled up as you and she just got the sparks choked out of her on live broadcast,¡± said Axis with a hiccup. The girl sipped from a potion bottle with a label that sported five stars on its face in a familiar spiral pattern named Refined Mischief. The girl drank the equivalent to the brand¡¯s version of a wine cooler, and had already told all her friends about the refinement liqueur company. The fewer the stars on the packaging of their label¡¯s face, the higher the quality.


    ¡°I already know what is happening on the lower floors, I stopped looking after my new boss, you met him before Auto, you ate dinner with him the night that Ash lost. He and Arson¡¯s other guild members are down in the lower levels giving Raid Corp absolute issues. If I wasn¡¯t here, would have asked to join that excursion group¡­¡± said Aura with excitement in her voice before she realized she may have over spoken. Ash hadn¡¯t exactly taken her job with the BHC very well, and Aura knew why.


    Aura had once idolized Ash, and now spread that same level of respect evenly amongst more than just her older sister. A sister that didn¡¯t understand the sudden shift from being treated as exalted and revered, to just another loved one.


    ¡°What kinds of things are they doing?¡± said Ash toward Aura, but then Auto spoke up first.


    ¡°So his name was Carter Gestalt, huh, I wonder if that means our rival is here,¡± mumbled Auto.


    ¡°No don¡¯t go in there, you two sparking idiots, oh my maiden, you knew it was a trap!¡± The room looked over at Alexander who hadn¡¯t stopped watching some sort of Kung-fu broadcast that had grown popular where they vacationed.


    ¡°What, don¡¯t look at me like that, Axis is friends with the voice actors and hangs out with them all the time, I wouldn¡¯t even have access to the private stream for Pretty Kung-Fu if she hadn¡¯t given it to me.¡± The others shifted their gazes toward Axis who shrugged.


    ¡°Ooh, have you gotten to my premier yet?¡± asked Axis excited.


    ¡°When did you even have time to record an episode with them,¡± asked Alexander who rushed over to Axis to show her the list of available videos. She marked the one she was scheduled to be revealed, and smiled.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we did all yesterday, I have a couple dozen appearances lined up.¡±


    Then Autumn rose to her feet and headed toward the door of their large vacation apartment suites. She had been like a magician since she found a competition that interested her, and no one had bothered her, but Ash began to wonder¡­


    ¡°Hey, Autumn, what have you been doing again. You seem like the only one of us truly competing this season cycle and normally you¡¯re the only odd man out, maybe Aura and I could join you?¡±


    ¡°Plant and vegetable cultivation needs have increased on the lower levels for some reason, so they made an event on the top floor for speed farming, I could actually use help from all of you guys, if any of you are interested.¡±


    Auto put down his flatscreen and headed toward his eldest sister. While Aura and Ash shared a look, before they joined them at the door.


    ¡°What about you two?¡± asked Ash with a questioning look toward Alexander and Axis. Both shook their heads before Axis spoke up.


    ¡°Got more shows to shoot for my personal broadcast, the BHC broadcasts, and even a few more episodes for the comedy I¡¯m helping Lane and Jazz with, and I think Alexander is going to help me with the cooking show I¡¯m launching for another of the BHC heads,¡± said Axis with another sip from her potion bottle.


    ¡°Be safe you two,¡± said Ash. The fear on her face for her siblings as real as the fire in her blood.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us Ash, you¡¯re the only one of us on Arson¡¯s list,¡± said Alexander with an eye-roll and a laugh.


    ¡°We will see about that¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°You see him?¡± asked Arson. He stood on the second story of a multi tiered building made for massive parties. Arms rested on a railing as he looked out over the crowd at their next target, Arson pushed down his frustration and focused.


    ¡°So how many of the events is it now that have been mana locked again,¡± asked Anastasia.


    ¡°You already know it has been all of them Anastasia,¡± responded Arson. His group¡¯s target hadn¡¯t been noticed, but luckily for Arson he had Xani on his team.


    ¡°Sorry it¡¯s just more funny the higher the number gets, but I don¡¯t think your friend¡¯s drones are going to continue to go unnoticed if you and the others keep winning,¡± stated Anastasia. The AI directed a few of the hand shaped drones inspired by Arson¡¯s own constructs, after Xani had prepared the propeller palm design he drew up and given to her the first night they¡¯d arrived.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, until we are stopped, it is a non-issue,¡± said Arson as he jumped from the second story and made his move.


    The young man Arson chased danced with a handful of beautiful women all at the same time. The urban and rhythmic style of the movements were flashy and well coordinated enough to make the young man appear to give each young lady his full attention.


    Once close enough to be heard through the music that blared all around them, Arson stopped and drew the cracked Scythe from his watches inventory, and waited. People began to notice his fixated gaze, and stepped away from the area.


    Cultivators from all the floors could be found in these party hubs made available to all guests from high to low. This often left the environments just as dangerous as they were fun or enticing.


    ¡°Hey isn¡¯t that the one guy who be beating people up without mana,¡± said one of the nearby cultivators. Arson waved his scythe filled hand in the girl¡¯s direction with an accompanied smile, and more of the crowd started to part around him.


    ¡°So you are really going to keep up this miserable quest for this garbage weapon as well? Come on, Arson, you have plans for much stronger weapons than a simple two-handed scythe,¡± said Anastasia, and Arson crouched with the weapon across his lap.


    ¡°You know at one point in time, I would have agreed with you,¡± said Arson. He ran a finger down the crack that lined the weapon¡¯s body. The lines of Uni-Vare that had started to enter its frame still being absorbed from the sky above since Arson had first used the weapon.


    ¡°Then you received a quest and now you think trash is treasure, I think the dump is having a bad effect on your ability to determine quality,¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°No, I learned that Shield-Bow ammo can literally be anything from arrows to boomerangs and more,¡± responded Arson. The stars in his eyes shown brightly as his core stirred. The pressure of his crown a constant threat as it was held inside his soul realm. His soul¡¯s connection to reality wanted to be freed, but Arson couldn¡¯t let the crown out since the last time had been¡­ explosive.


    ¡°Why does it feel like the weapon wants my crown to be out though?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but pay attention to the sensations his growth both physically and mentally had brought on.


    Since he¡¯d left Endless, he noticed many things about himself that weren¡¯t exactly apparent while he¡¯d been pushed from trial to trial. Such as his restored regeneration levels being increased even further, and his crown¡¯s hunger for absolutely anything.


    ¡°What, y¡¯all can¡¯t keep up with all this fresh?¡± said the young man. Arson was honestly jealous of his dance moves. The guy was talented, which helped Arson gauge how intense the battle to come would be before it¡¯d even started.


    ¡°No, Oscar, there is a guy waiting for you or something,¡± said one of the girls that danced with Arson¡¯s target.


    ¡°So your name is Oscar, cool, always good to know someone¡¯s name before a fight, makes things less formal,¡± said Arson as he came to his feet.


    ¡°Fight, you want to fight with me, seriously,¡± asked Oscar. Arson nodded and saw an intense excitement boil across the young man¡¯s face.


    ¡°You are the third one today, Raid Corp must really want a meeting with me if they made an entire event to kidnap me, hope this isn¡¯t as boring as it has been so far¡­¡±


    Arson shrugged, ¡°Guess we will find out together.¡±

 Chapter 57: Halted Momentum

    Arson and the others walked down the street as a group with the exception of Lane and Jasmine. Troy and Arson in the front, with Rob and Khalif at their flanks.


    Rob and Khalif dragged a thrashing figure behind their party. Their previous target Oscar who was inside the bag, constantly cursed at them through the air holes the basic black-op tool offered, and moved around enough to annoy Khalif and Rob thoroughly when the straps were yanked free of their grips.


    ¡°You sure I can¡¯t kick him,¡± asked Khalif.


    ¡°No, you kicked him enough already before we got him into the bag, Khal, and I think it¡¯s a crime to do any further damage to a cultivator once they¡¯re inside one of those,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Think I read that somewhere too,¡± added Rob.


    The group walked into the bounty office and the woman behind the desk waved at Khalif and Arson, before greeting Troy and Rob, more familiar with the former than the latter.


    ¡°You two are going to get in trouble if you keep this up, soon we will be sending mandatory bounties for meetings for you two,¡± said one of the attendees to Arson and Khalif.


    ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± said Arson, which caused the second attendant to elbow her coworker.


    ¡°I told you they are trying to get access to the sky resort like the high nobles,¡± whispered the woman conspiratorially. Arson winked at the woman and Troy rolled her eyes.


    She had made note that his looks had only gotten better now that he was older. His other friends told him that he looked like a cross between the king and Jade somehow, which Arson thought was funny as only Troy knew who his birth mother was.


    ¡°Well we only have one other high paying abduction meeting contract currently and that is for someone on the top floor, the job would come with temporary access to the floor, and would even grant a free day time slot for your group¡¯s own tickets,¡± said the first attendant. Arson didn¡¯t even ask the details before he nodded and extended his watch over the woman¡¯s workstation.


    Then he saw the face of his target; the details for the job; as well as the true extent of the rewards, and felt he¡¯d just walked into a trap.


    ¡°You gotta be sparking kidding me¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Feed the World!¡± The chant was repeated over and over. The massive stadium held seats around large plantations with empty, unworked fields.


    Weaved in-between the fields were paths that connected each field to one another. An intricate design that looked like a maze from the stands above was made with every completion of this event, and many of the fans were simply there for the art and skill displayed by the farmers of the cultivation realms.


    ¡°Welcome cultivators from far and wide, to another round of Feed the World!¡±


    The cheering boomed throughout the area for miles, as even though the event was new, it now had one of the largest followings, and some of the highest attending rates throughout all of Coliseum.


    Ash and the rest of her siblings waited for Autumn to arrive, and couldn¡¯t help but smile when she did and the roar of the crowd increased.


    Autumn was a fan favorite, and had been given the most dry and barren of all the paths and field options available.


    Where Ash had once thought this to be a slight, it was instead seen as an honor. No one could claim to be better than someone who develops a higher grade of product with lesser ingredients or tools. Talent and skill or the lack thereof were all seen as normal in the cultivation world, so in the end no one held Autumn¡¯s power against her.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the move this time, sister, same as usual or what?¡± Autumn looked at Ash, Aura, and Auto and shook her head, ¡°No, this time I want to try Auto¡¯s water path idea.¡±


    The group smiled and took their places at the center of the field and waited for the round to begin.


    ¡°Hey, did you see that?¡± asked Auto. A flash of metal in the corner of his vision shaped oddly like a metallic hand moved rapidly across the ground, but when he looked, all that was there was a mix of sand and dirt.


    No way I imagined that, right? Maybe all those days of studying the BHC drones from satellite imagery is starting to get to me?


    Auto tried to focus on what he needed to do. He hadn¡¯t thought he¡¯d actually be helping when he originally came with his sister, his intention to be a strong moral support from the stands.


    Instead, he ended up designing mobile watering drones for Autumn to use during her competition. Being forced to rush the designs and construction, led to his involvement being more direct than he wanted at first.


    After a few rounds of victories alongside his siblings, he felt proud of himself. Ash no longer frowned constantly, and Auto felt better, not realizing how his sister¡¯s sour mood had been affecting him.


    The countdown started and Auto prepared his drones. The bodies of the equipment were shaped like bowls the size of small closets, that floated above mana rings, forged from mana stones inscribed to support their team¡¯s needs.


    The mana rings directed movement, how large the holes were for watering, and even water temperatures. A feature they figured out the first time they used Ash¡¯s ability to form an artificial sun.


    Ash raised her hands above her head as the crowd¡¯s chant of the countdown finally reached its completion,¡°Let¡¯s get this party started!¡±


    A few moments prior, 1000 meters away underground¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s get this started,¡± said Arson. He and the others were in a tunnel being dug by Xani¡¯s Propeller Palm Drones. The blades at the center of the devices¡¯ hand-shaped bodies, had been adapted to be able to dig. Dig at a speed that had made both Arson and Xani wonder if they were overlooking the potential of her newest designs.


    ¡°Sometimes I wonder if we aren¡¯t normal,¡± said Khalif in a daze. Rob nodded in agreement.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re right, I keep trying to ignore it, but this sparking situation ain¡¯t got a thing simple about it,¡± added Rob with a chuckle.


    ¡°Aww, it isn¡¯t that bad, we are currently in a high grade tunnel, literally being made as we walk through it,¡± said Xani. Dozens of hands moved around their group in synchronized motions. Some compacted dirt, others built pillars, and the rest dug the tunnel worthy of a subway train by the breath.


    ¡°And we are going to abduct our boss¡¯s sister to get points for our team building vaca¡ª Xani began to feel absurd about how casually she described their goings on and ended up nodding to herself instead of finishing.


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    ¡°Look guys, I¡¯m sorry to tell you this, but Arson didn¡¯t pick people to work with at the orphanage for our discipline and strong decision making skills, he chose based on kindness, personal ability and our acknowledgement for the potential of something larger than ourselves, if you wanted simple and safe, you already had that,¡± said Troy with a glance toward the others and then up at Arson. He smiled and nodded at her words, appreciative that she was able to understand his own process, even without fully having to describe where and why his thoughts led him to certain decisions.


    Troy lit their path with light orbs as they walked, without a single touch of pressure about what was to come. She was still trying not to blush when Arson took her by the hand casually wherever they went. Then realized that there may be some legitimacy in what her friends were saying if handholding took up more space in her mind as a hurdle than her next abduction event.


    Hmmm, maybe we are a little off¡­ should we consider counseling or something, thought Troy to herself momentarily. Then felt an immediate revulsion to the thought, with the absolute sense that she was happier than she¡¯d ever been and didn¡¯t want much to change in her life beside her ability to defend her loved ones improving.


    ¡°Hey, I hear you, but we are about to abduct a princess, that don¡¯t seem a little crazy to you,¡± asked Rob.


    ¡°Not really, honestly lost count of how many important people I have had to abduct over the last few season cycles,¡± said Arson, who¡¯d long ago lost any reservation against doing the hard thing.


    He was there to rebalance his team. With the exception of Arson not knowing their full capabilities, and them consistently referring to him as small around others, all team work levels had increased which made Arson excited for what they would be able to do with more time. Time he wished he had to take things slowly.


    ¡°How long Xani?¡±


    We¡­ should be underneath center stage in no time flat. Are you sure you want to snatch her up here? She is providing us with most of the materials we need for Rob¡¯s potions,¡± said Xani, apprehension clear in her tone. Her finger sat over a button on her flatscreen tablet, while she waited for Arson¡¯s response.


    ¡°Yeah, if anything we may have to abduct her a second time, and work out a way for her to make us an excess of ingredients for what we need next.¡±


    Xani nodded. Pressed the button her finger hovered over and spoke through the explosion at the end of the tunnel that opened up the roof and let in natural sunlight, ¡°Noted¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Ash couldn¡¯t help but smile. Autumn stood atop a literal walking tree, its head a platform that gave her a vantage of all nearby fields; its arms made of branches that held Ash even higher above her eldest sister.


    ¡°You good up there?¡± yelled Autumn up to Ash. She nodded back at her sister and laughed as she pumped more power into her skill.


    ¡°Now this is farming,¡± exclaimed Ash in joy. The giant ball of flames above the walking tree was an odd purple that seemed to feed the vegetation below at an unparalleled rate. Ash was only capable of this feat due to Autumn burning an odd crystal she formed from her own mana into Ash¡¯s flames.


    Auto sat below Autumn, surrounded by branches in a protective cage. He only needed to be able to see far enough to direct the watering drones, but Autumn decided to protect him at Ash¡¯s direction.


    Ash quickly realized her eldest sister¡¯s walking tree seemed to be far more dextrous and regenerated far more quickly when it had access to water, which made her brother¡¯s safety their group¡¯s highest priority.


    ¡°Incoming!¡± roared Aura. She was the only one of their group not linked to the body of the walking tree, Autumn wanted to name Titan.


    A group of cultivators from another team rushed to block their path, as another team flew toward them through the sky. Aura charged the group on the ground while Autumn shifted her focus.


    The group''s objective was to plant their given crop on as many fields as possible. Paths were worth a small amount of points while a team¡¯s main field was worth all the points used to enter the competition.


    Autumn¡¯s only job, beside guiding her walking tree, was to consistently fill the drones Auto directed with water. The massive torrent of twisted liquid and air friction she held spawned small clouds of water in the air all around their group while they pushed toward their third enemy field.


    ¡°Autumn¡¯s clouds served multiple purposes as they grew denser, rather than larger. The small pressurized containers would burst with gushes of water when filled, rather than offering normal sized rain drops. This both filled their team¡¯s watering drones, as well as provided a constant flooding of all the enemy fields they walked by.


    Regardless of how much extra water there was though, Auto was still forced to move drones in front of the tree to maintain a water filled path for it to regenerate and move, as well as provide optimal water for the seeds Aura scattered everywhere to grow.


    Aura quickly managed to take down the group of defenders in front of her to Ash¡¯s amazement. She occasionally twisted the flames above herself to decimate enemy fields, anddefend against aerial targets, all in addition to creating a perfect ecosystem for plant growth.


    In their group¡¯s minds, nothing could stop them. Some teams consisted of 25 cultivators and some even brought 100 or more, but were still overwhelmed by their combined might.


    ¡°Hey guys, does this seem even easier than normal,¡± yelled Autumn in question to Ash and the others. Ash looked around and didn¡¯t notice anything wrong, but still felt her stomach momentarily twist at the words.


    ¡°Last time I felt like this¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you guys see that, seriously, I could have sworn I just saw a metallic hand¡ª Auto¡¯s warning was cut off and mini explosions could be heard all around them. Entire fields crumpled inward, cultivators and crops alike swallowed whole by the earth below themselves.


    The crowd exploded with excitement and the announcer began to turn the action into a crowd turning frenzy.


    ¡°By the Maiden!¡± The crowd was on their feet and more explosions went off, one even timed perfectly to open a hole underneath the walking trees next step.


    ¡°Son of a sparking forest fire,¡± cursed Ash as the only thing that held her aloft began to topple. The level of intensity grew, and Ash had a feeling that what was occurring was not a planned piece of the event the moment she saw a young beautiful man climb free of one of the many holes made nearby, a scythe in hand.


    ¡°Oh Sparks!¡± yelled Aura.


    ¡°My boss is here!¡±


    ¡­


    Arson jumped free of the hole and took in the area. He wasn¡¯t mana locked, but decided that his mana usage was probably too dangerous for an environment. He didn¡¯t want anyone to die, he just needed to snatch his eldest sister and leave¡­


    No big deal, just a snatch and grab. What could go wrong?


    Arson felt he¡¯d just jinxed himself, but hoped that maybe not speaking the words aloud would keep away the manifestation of trouble.


    ¡°Yeah right, Arson,¡± he mumbled under his breath while he ducked an incoming wave of flames. To Arson he wasn¡¯t an entity to change the flow of combat. He wanted to embody potential, and kept that thought alive in his mind at all times.


    Though he had great effect on what occurred at any point in any battle he¡¯d been a part of since his childhood, Arson had a skewed view of power. His siblings all were threats of their own, but Arson didn¡¯t compare himself to them, but their parents and their peers.


    Not that he held the same level of significance as those figures, but comparably the same mindset, or unyielding willpower.


    Arson sliced through a wave of flames and snickered to himself as he felt his scythe drink in the energy of the odd white and purple tinted fire. He didn¡¯t know where the flames came from, but decided not to press forward into the battle while his new weapon ate the incoming attacks.


    A cultivator was confused when Arson extended his blade in their direction with a slice that blocked a large flaming projectile from hitting them; only to spin the weapon back toward them in the very next instant.


    Arson launched the young woman in the air, using her body to stop the large cloud of explosive water that shot toward him. With a screaming slap against a cloud larger than the woman¡¯s entire person, a hydronic explosion occurred.


    The young woman struck against the cloud that had been as dense as sandstone or even marble, which had caused the explosion initially. Arson moved underneath her body while she hurtled through the air and crash-landed behind him in a trench made by another cultivator¡¯s attack.


    Arson glanced back and worried if the girl was okay. The trench was large and may have led into one of his team¡¯s pre-built tunnels. Then Troy rose from the hole with the woman over her shoulder and Arson sighed.


    ¡°Glad I put them on damage control, the publicity would be bad if I gathered a whole bunch of carnage on the footage I pass on to Lane,¡± said Arson to Anastasia. A horizontal swipe of his weapon caused a charging foe to tuck their head in an attempt to duck, which Arson used.


    He grabbed the man by the shoulder and with a jerk, pushed the man further down, all while he jumped forward and rolled off the man¡¯s back.


    The spartan kick he delivered once he landed on a completely separate enemy, ended the first part of his attack. With the full power of his hips as if he was about to perform a conductive waters enhanced spin kick, Arson spun on a dime and hooked the man he¡¯d rolled over, and launched the man at some sort of giant tree monster in the distance..


    Next, with a burst of speed, he appeared before the man he¡¯d spartan-kicked and grabbed him by the throat, ¡°Sorry about this¡­!¡±


    ¡°Aah!¡± The man screamed when Arson raised him like a shield and used his body to block another explosive water cloud he now knew came from the tree.


    ¡°I know I haven¡¯t said this before, guys, but my older sister might be a problem here,¡± said Arson over his group¡¯s Overlay Com-Link.


    ¡°Ya think?¡± blurted Khalif. Arson chuckled to himself. He¡¯d given Khalif the hardest part of the abduction plan, and when Arson saw the humanoid shaped bodies begin to form from the tree in the distance and defend the large creature, he knew that difficulty was only going to grow.


    ¡°Figure it out buddy we are running out of time.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Figure it out buddy, we are running out of time,¡± Ash yelled down toward Auto. Her younger brother was being swarmed by panicked cultivators who attempted to flee from the giant tree¡¯s branches they¡¯d been literally flung into, twirling through the air like tossed boulders.


    ¡°Figure it out, are you sparking kidding me right now, I brought none of my gear, this was supposed to be a bloody simple farming exercise, that¡¯s what you told me,¡± screamed Auto as he smashed cultivators with his tablet. By that point, all of his drones had been set for defensive patterns that allowed for his sister¡¯s plants, her primary weapon, to flourish regardless of his attention.


    ¡°Get these idiots off of me!¡±


    Aura fought on the side of the tree. Sky blue energies flowed free of her pores while she battled and climbed toward her elder brother¡¯s panicked screams.


    ¡°Calm down Auto. I¡¯m coming, dude!¡±


    Ash tried not to get dizzy, but the struggled lurches that now came with the trees every movement made her head spin. She was glad when the tree finally stopped and Autumn began to spawn plant-bodied defenders against the enemy teams that battled all around them, and the duo of enemies that had emerged from underground.


    She focused and tried to push back all who rushed them with massive flame-based attacks, but even that didn¡¯t last long.


    Ash was forced to watch a scythe wielding young man that Aura said to be her boss, throw a glowing brown haired girl into the air, directly at her. At first she¡¯d mistook the cultivator as another flung distraction, but the image of what had been done replayed again in her mind.


    Did he just give her a boost?¡­ She looked again at the young woman that had been thrown and realized a moment too late that the Queen of Troy was a breath away from entering the battle.


    ¡°We got a problem!¡±

 Chapter 58: Contracted

    Jade tried not to watch over her son, but she couldn¡¯t help herself. She¡¯d never been able to see how her mother could seem so rewarded each time Jade herself had grown as a child or young adult, but now¡­


    ¡°Kick him, boy, you are better than that!¡± An entire wall of Jade¡¯s lab displayed a hologram of a Raid Corp broadcast named Feed the World. Jade froze after Troy was sent through the air toward a giant tree, and heel dropped out of the sky through a miniature purple white sun that seemed to be growing darker until Troy¡¯s actions.


    ¡°Ooh,¡± murmured Jade, as a large corona was created by the burst orb of flames. The shard of mana stone in her hand was three times larger than her palm and grew hot the closer it came to the perfect placement within the mana core she worked on. The heat pulled her eyes from the holograms temporarily, and she missed Troy¡¯s kick land.


    She fit the piece of mana stone where she thought it went and smiled when it was pulled from her fingertips and snapped into place linked seamlessly next to its brothers and sisters.


    She had completed more of the core of Ikarus than any of her ancestral predecessors. Almost half of the tribal sun¡¯s structure had been restored from its base upward. A multi-colored symphony of pieces hummed with an inner light that vibrated and filled the gymnasium sized room around her while she worked.


    ¡°One piece at a time,¡± said Jade, before she turned back to the holograms. She didn¡¯t have to move from where she was to get another piece of the mana core. She simply bent down and picked up another piece from the trillions of shards piled a few feet around the entire 101 foot perimeter of the construction.


    She didn¡¯t have to walk around its border to find where the next section to fit the piece belonged either, but old habits sometimes didn¡¯t die in immortals ever, and this habit had been formed when she had been a mortal and couldn¡¯t use her power to shift the construction mentally.


    At least I don¡¯t use it like a table anymore, I dare not face the shard of my mother left inside the purity of gravity if she were to find out, thought Jade with a sigh.


    Mom, I bet you would still try and kill me for that one. Jade couldn¡¯t help but laugh at where her mind took her. Though with each action the children in front of her took, the more she returned to the present mentally.


    She rarely took her eyes off the screen, more and more proud of her son and his friends with every breath taken. More and more proud of what she taught them shining through their newly forming bonds and foundations within cultivation.


    They were improving rapidly, and though she regretted sending her son away to grow on his own, she now knew her actions to be justified. He¡¯d needed a solid independence to be able to lead the impressive group of orphans he¡¯d gathered by his side.


    ¡°I have now seen your growth, your grace, and so much more, it is time to show your purpose and your prominence, my son.¡±


    ¡­


    Rob had to admit he was having an absolute blast. He had terrible aim, but a countless number of disposable potions that had gone wrong during their creation process stuffed away within his spatial backpack.


    He¡¯d at first been throwing them away, but when he¡¯d mention to Arson that some could cause violent effects due to being spoiled¡­ he felt ashamed that he hadn¡¯t thought of using them as potential weapons before his young leader proposed the idea.


    Now, cultivators ate potions all around Rob. At first he¡¯d wasted a lot of potions with a lack of proper aim, but what he¡¯d proven far better at doing was handing the potions over to the flying robotic hands with next to perfect aim all around himself.


    ¡°Here you go,¡± said Rob before another hand swooped in and grabbed a bottle from his upturned palm. He winced when the hand didn¡¯t even manage to throw the potion but collided with a young woman¡¯s face at full speed. The girl didn¡¯t even get up before the hallucinations set in and she writhed on the floor under attack from absolutely nothing but old ingredients and improper manufacturing processes. Rob found this hilarious and chuckled heartily at each person effected this way.


    ¡°Rob, I don¡¯t know what you think is so funny, you are softer than most of these¡ª Khalif¡¯s words in the coms cut off when a cultivator managed to sneak up on Rob only for the chef to flip him over his back and slam down a potion into the man¡¯s face.


    ¡°What were you saying, my guy, I couldn¡¯t hear you with all the sparks I¡¯m putting into the opposition,¡± said Rob impersonating a mobster the whole time.


    ¡°Look boss, I get it, I can sneak around, cool whatever, but throw a guy a break and give me the break neck job every once in a while,¡± said Khalif annoyed.


    ¡°Noted,¡± said Arson through the coms, and Rob didn¡¯t expect him to respond. Last time he¡¯d seen Khalif he¡¯d managed to teleport into the branches that surrounded Arson¡¯s brother Auto.


    Then to Rob¡¯s further surprise, a new voice entered the coms, ¡°Hey boss, it¡¯s Aura, I know you have been snatching up prominent figures on vacation for Raid Corp, and I¡¯m guessing your here for Autumn, but could you please not kidnap my sister?¡±


    ¡­


    Rob¡¯s laughter in the calms after Aura managed to use her work link to join the coms made Arson roll his eyes, even as he sliced through the explosive clouds all round himself. The powerful attacks reminded him of larger condensed versions of his own conductive water orbs, but he pushed potential upgrades of his own attack aside to respond to his older sister.


    ¡°Sorry Aura, I gotta get up to the sky island and talk with the king, nothing personal,¡± responded Arson with a heavy cleave that made a dozen of the clouds around him pop like soap bubbles filled with miniature storms.


    ¡°What, you need to speak to my dad? Why didn¡¯t you just ask me? I can work that out,¡± said Aura. Arson pushed through the field of explosions all around him, sliding through the torrents of exploding water with exact movements, his sister¡¯s words growing more frantic with every burst of speed that came with his powerful blast of momentum forward. Each step making him vanish and reappear closer to his sibling¡¯s position.


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    ¡°How many bloody anomalies can our brother and these BHC Black Hole bastards find?¡± yelled Ash in the background of Aura¡¯s coms.


    ¡°Shut up, Ash! Things are about to get much worse if we don¡¯t do something now,¡± yelled Aura. Arson sighed, knowing that his sister was correct, things were about to get much, much worse.


    ¡°Sorry Aura, BHC¡­.,¡± started Arson, a half completed statement left in the air momentarily picked up by every other member on the coms in the next breath.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t do favors!¡±


    Arson charged forward and began his assault on the humanoid tree figures that gushed out of the large trees main body. The smaller forms seemed even stronger than the skeletons Arson fought recently, and were far more accurate than clumsy in their movements.


    ¡°Xani, block Aura¡¯s access to the coms for the day, and begin the final phase.¡±


    Large clumps of the tree figures were either sliced in half or thrown aside. Arson then shifted stances into his flicker stance, and the flow of combat changed once more.


    Arson still unaware of the forms that painted the sky when he used his own created style of combat, pushed beyond the limits of natural skill.


    The forms above him in the sky shifted constantly, different images performing his exact movements across various battlefields, all throughout time and space.


    The legacy he attempted to inherit by his pure focus on his current weapon united many different combat styles, made and perfected long ago. Only, Arson¡¯s every movement was a perfected feint, parry, counter, grab, or even combination. Actions cultivators throughout existence used to survive and grow, now instinctually completed and transformed by Arson.


    ¡°Hey, little buddy, turn it down a little,, we have to make this look like a struggle remember?¡± Xani¡¯s voice came through the coms, and though Arson heard the words, his focus was powerful enough to drown out the sensation as white noise.


    With each perfected movement with the broken scythe, a line of power pierced the sky like falling stars to enter his weapon. This occurrence normally happened a handful of times throughout a cultivator¡¯s life, no matter how long their immortal existences were, but had happened every breath he took almost since the beginning of the fight.


    Only beings of extreme high levels of cultivation could witness the images above Arson, but the energies of the legacies he tapped into naturally had started to pulse out from the scythe he used, making the weapon¡¯s growing aura visible to all around.


    ¡°Arson, you okay, I¡¯m struggling to hold back too but you¡¯re leaking mana,¡± said Troy into the coms. Her voice did pierce his focus enough for him to glance at himself. It was then that he realized something was different, but not wrong enough for him to stop.


    ¡°I¡¯m not using any mana, the scythe is doing something¡­¡± Arson¡¯s voice was low and filled with power to the point that it was heard not only by his team through the coms, but all through the battlefield they fought on. Then the notification popped up in Arson¡¯s vision and he cursed aloud.


    Skeletal Horde wave 2/3: Mana Locked Event, survive for great reward. *System Alert* Scythe metamorphosis currently in progress, determination for necessary increased event difficulty processing¡­


    Come on, come on, show me some love and don¡¯t make this any worse than the situation already sparking is! Arson¡¯s mental prayers went unanswered as usual, and he wanted to rage at what came next.


    Increased difficulty determination processed. All qualifications met. Increase mandatory. Simultaneous wave summoning initiated.


    Skeletal Horde waves 2-3: mana locked event. Survive and gain access to upgradable skeletal horde spell and more. *System Alert* uncompleted cores cannot use magic of the immortal grade due to instantaneous fatality potential. Spell will be locked within Overlay if gained until immortal ranks system usage is acquired by user: Sovereign Arson Omni.


    ¡°Guys, we got a problem, Troy turn things up all the way, you too Xani, Rob if you got anything else hidden in the bag, do it now, Khalif, hitman tactics, get my siblings out of here now and bag Autumn if you can manage it, otherwise just stay alive!¡±


    ¡­


    Troy didn¡¯t know what was going on with Arson. She¡¯d been using her advanced levels of speed to plague the giant tree with hard-light clone attacks from the creatures seeming blindspots, when Arson suddenly yelled in a panic.


    A panic she didn¡¯t feel the situation deserved. Until a portal half the size of the field they were all in opened in the sky above them face down.


    ¡°Are those¡­¡± Troy didn¡¯t finish the sentence. Instead she moved. Skeletons of various shape, size and even species started to fall from the sky through the portal¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Spark no boss, I¡¯m out, you said beat up some cultivators and your siblings, this, this is above my pay grade!¡± Troy didn¡¯t laugh at Rob. She didn¡¯t blame him for wanting to leave, as before training in the dump, a situation like this would have clearly been something she wouldn¡¯t sign up for willingly.


    Yet when she looked for Rob to support his retreat, she found him amidst the action, with no seeming intention of leaving. Instead he was lifted into the air by two of the robotic hands Xani created, and lofted explosive gas like potions that dissolved the skeletons and ate through the humanoid trees being summoned and spawned equally without discrimination.


    ¡°Sorry about this, Aura, bossman says it¡¯s time to take off the kid gloves and wrap this up,¡± said Khalif into the coms. All that could be heard after that was Arson¡¯s siblings¡¯ screams of terror, and frantic and shock filled battle cries.


    Khalif could be seen as he teleported all throughout the tree. In a single combination of movements and skills, Khalif, teleported behind his target, knocked them out, and sent them through his short range shadow gateways.


    Sparks that¡¯s scary to see at a distance, thought Troy. She knew that Khalif had issue with the power gap he saw between himself and Arson, even before he¡¯d left, but still hadn¡¯t acknowledged his own growth under Jade either.


    Then her eyes fell momentarily on her favorite person, and the weapon he held, and felt her own guts twist in envy momentarily, before it transformed into pride. She too battled with how powerful she wanted to be, and how powerful her partner had become, but watching him filled her with light and honor.


    Arson¡¯s hair moved through the air as if he was at the center of a violent storm. Her heart fluttered as the increase of enemies swelled to the point that she could no longer see him, but when she felt a swell of rage push through their bond and Arson crush every enemy that separated them in a blink, she knew she wasn¡¯t alone.


    The sight of him made her push herself harder. Harder than she ever had before.


    ¡°Come on! Bring it!¡± Dozens of hard-light clones burst free of Troy¡¯s body and spread out in various directions. There were no more cultivators beside her own team and Arson¡¯s siblings left under the rain of Skeletons, which gave her more than enough targets to let loose on.


    When Troy felt the sensation she¡¯d been training emerge once more, she let it consume her, mind, body, and soul. The push and pull of light energies twisted violently around herself, and hundreds of skeletons began to explode underneath the pressure of her mana¡¯s aura, and the pressure of her blows.


    ¡°Hey boss,¡± attempted Xani. She got no answer, only grunts and the sounds of skeletal bodies being crushed. So went down the chain of command.


    ¡°Troy, Troooy, Troy!¡± She still received no answer, and eventually decided for herself.


    ¡°Khalif, Rob, we have the target, we are getting out of here now, boss and Troy will catch up when they are done,¡± said Xani through the coms and for the first time since the battle started she flew from underground. A runic fireball exploded out from her palm with a ferocity that sent all the skeletons near the hole she flew from to be sent scattered through the air around her exit point.


    ¡­


    Aura watched as her boss made a mockery of their defenses. Then she was forced to defend herself against the sky itself. A crowd that was normally very peaceful and fun loving, had turned into a group of individuals affected by the same mob mentality at an execution; coldhearted and out for blood.


    ¡°Feed. The. World! Feed. The. World!¡± A once uplifting chant, changed by circumstance, now filled Aura with the dread of her own potential death. When she looked at her boss after realizing she may die there, her heart skipped a beat.


    He shredded, sliced, tore and sundered foes with an aggression that stole the emotion from his face, his normal smile gone, as a serene focus masked him with power and potential.


    Yet, even though all those left on the battlefield gave it their all, and even Aura managed to push herself beyond her previous limits, the chant of the crowd changed. Not to her sister¡¯s name, who spawned an army of her own. Nor to her brother that managed to change his watering drones into weighted wrecking balls and smash skeletons by the tens.


    She even would have thought that Troy deserved the attention of the crowd with how her aura seemed to dissolve and absorb her enemies like rain to desert sands. Or Ash, who¡¯d turned her body into a literal green sun of intense flames above them all. Instead all she could hear beyond the chant that was the event¡¯s name, was the name of her boss, a man she now considered the equivalent to a pure bred demon.


    ¡°Carter Gestalt! Carter Gestalt! Carter Gestalt!¡±

 Chapter 13.6: Day 2 Part 3: Deliveries & Dynasties

    ¡°You think we won¡¯t remember this!¡±


    Khalif punched Remy for the last time, finally knocking his last opponent out. He¡¯d fought every last one of the Movers, down to the last woman and man. He¡¯d also fought a one-sided battle where he¡¯d be slowly brought down, and before the fight had begun in earnest he felt that to be his only fate.


    Yet with each target he took down during the altercation, the more unbalanced the odds became. Khalif was cut, kicked, and battered to the point that he limped out of the alleyway he¡¯d entered. A bloody hand print quickly dried on the edge of the alleyway¡¯s entrance left behind as Khalif balanced himself slightly; the young man looking back only once before he strolled off, pushing through the pain in his leg. Khalif unaware of an identical handprint left on the front of his once pristine collared white shirt. In his drowsy state, Khalif roamed back to where he¡¯d last felt comfortable, finding himself stumbling into the warehouse just beyond the edges of the City Dump and Junkyard.


    ¡°Hey man, how dare you ruin my gifts. Take that shirt off so I can clean it. Anyone know first aid or something?¡± Jasmine spoke to Khalif, but his eyes closed and he flopped over. Not a moment after he fell did the rest of his bodyguards-in-training run into the front door of the warehouse, frantic until they all froze at the sight of Khalif¡¯s snoring form.


    ¡°I know a little bit of first aid. You got a kit? Let me look at him,¡± said Troy stepping in behind the frozen ex-gang members. Everyone stared at Troy as one of the Bookish ran a first aid kit over to her, while she pushed through the crowd between her and Khalif.


    ¡°Sparks Khalif, what were you doing?¡±


    ¡°Taking on a dozen Movers in the southern edges of the bronze¡­ by the time we got there, he left already. They were all pretty banged up, but it looks like Khalif paid a price too,¡± said one of the guards.


    Jasmine shared a look with Troy before both young woman shook their heads slowly. Troy did her best to bandage up Khalif, but ended up lifting the young man over her shoulder after Jasmine got him clothed.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go see if Jade will let us use another one of those hibernation pods, and check on Arson. We can talk about this makeover idea or whatever you wanted to speak about another time ,yeah?¡± Jasmine nodded at Troy as she jogged off with Khalif in hand. The young woman was left with the bodyguards actively looking for direction from her. Jasmine did her best to remain calm and positive in a situation she felt to be entirely outside what should be expected of her. Yet feeling slightly rewarded by the chance to help others as they helped her.


    ¡°Look, we have a full team going right now, and we can knock this out, but how about a full uniform for you all, and whoever takes the deal looks for guards and laundry crew members tonight? Sound like a deal?¡±


    ¡­


    Khalif woke up in a hibernation pod, when looking around he could see that he was laid next to Arson, surrounded by people they both knew.


    Xani was there, Rob was there, and so was Jasmine. The three had a conversation nearby, but it wasn¡¯t until Khalif woke up and opened the door to the pod he was in that they even realized he was awake.


    ¡°Yo buddy, don¡¯t move so fast. You were pretty banged up not that long ago, and Jade said to make sure that you make a full recovery before we let you go anywhere,¡± Rob said moving quickly across the room to stop Khalif from jumping out of bed.


    Khalif gave a slow nod, feeling his head spin as he tried to sit up straight; quickly giving up before laying back down, the sensation of vertigo overwhelming to the point that Rob ended up being the one to close the pod door, Khalif¡¯s eyes already closed by the time Rob latched the hibernation pod shut.


    Before Rob could say another word, however, Khalif¡¯s eyes shot open and toward the sound of Arson¡¯s voice. Everyone else also turned toward the young master¡¯s hibernation pod.


    Shocked features shifted from excitement to confusion once the group all realized it wasn¡¯t Arson waking up and speaking that they heard, but instead a hologram was being projected across the surface of the pod.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening¡ª¡° Xani shushed Jasmine, and rushed toward the pod to hear what was being shown. A new recording being presented.


    ¡°So you said Rob was one of the most instrumental parts of your plan alongside Khalif. What is the move with both of them?¡± came Troy¡¯s voice loud and clear through the recording. Once more Arson and Troy could be seen amidst a horde of robots and ghostly phantoms sprinkled throughout the mass of enemies trying to overwhelm them both.


    ¡°Well Rob is most likely going to be one of the greatest chefs to ever live, quote me on that. One of my first memories as a child is him feeding me homemade baby food, and if I¡¯m being honest with myself, those meals stand out as more delicious than anything I¡¯ve had prepared elsewhere excluding Jade¡¯s own bloody delicacies.¡±


    ¡°So what are your plans? Just have a master chef cook for you all day everyday?¡±


    The pair on the recording went silent, forced to fight for their lives rather than continue their conversation. Both mentally giving their all to the combat, coming back to their brief exchanges between explosive scenes filled with overwhelming odds.


    The group watching completely captivated, the scenes being displayed by the AI within Arson¡¯s watch, real, but dramatized in a way through camera editing to consume all who watched.


    ¡°No, I¡¯d never waste his talent like that, I¡¯m going to trick him into starting the best food delivery service company in the Bronze, offering free food to get people addicted to his high level of cuisine and food production, and once he gets popular have him challenge the best chefs we can find any and everywhere,¡± Arson said with a casual confidence that moved Rob. The words between friends felt private, all who listened feeling privilege to hear the opinions of their shared new leader¡¯s intentions.


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    ¡°Oh yah, and what if he loses,¡± asked Troy truly asking with the expectation that something like appearance in the face of loss, and a societal view on weakness would slow Arson¡¯s response.


    Yet, the young man had loss many fights, only to feel that he¡¯d won many more after he¡¯d gained a core and access to an Overlay. Power was granted to him that he felt would be wrong to use against people with the meager understanding of what internal power meant, knowing no more in the end than he himself did.


    ¡°Losing means nothing for Rob. If he loses once, he¡¯ll learn enough from that one incident to win 10 more times, if he loses 10, that will make him win 100 face-offs. He¡¯s not like me, he¡¯ll fight stronger opponents rather than weaker ones,¡± said Arson, spartan kicking a robot in the chest, before firing a conductive water orb in its mid section. The mechanical warrior was sent flying, only to have its head crushed by one of Troy¡¯s summoned clones dropping from the sky and smashing the robot into the ground below with a powerful stomp.


    You would never fight someone weaker than yourself little buddy, without being agitated beyond reason first.


    Khalif laughed internally as he watched Arson¡¯s continued struggle with the foes around him.


    ¡°So you¡¯re going to start with a delivery service? That idea has honestly failed so many times in the Bronze already from what I¡¯ve seen, what makes yours any different?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where Khalif comes in, if he and his team manage to prove to be sufficient guards then we¡¯ll be able to overcome the one thing that my research has shown kills all delivery services in the Bronze,¡± started Arson.


    ¡°Not being protected between deliveries,¡± said Troy excitedly as if she just had a brilliant idea of her own, finishing Arson¡¯s explanation before he could himself.


    ¡°Exactly¡­¡±


    ¡°Between that and your laundry business with Jasmine you can do pretty well for yourself at a rather young age. Man, you should be proud of yourself,¡± said Troy, managing to perform a full body suplex on one of the many robots around them, smashing the unit into many of its fellow mechanical brethren as they charged her.


    ¡°Ha, you¡¯re funny. Jasmine can¡¯t wait to get offered a full time job by Kim. I love her to death, but she¡¯s not using her brain if she thinks she¡¯s going to do better working for Kim than being a head of one of my startups. I¡¯m¡­ not going to force anyone to be a part of greatness, nor do I have the time to try, it¡¯s her loss if she doesn¡¯t see what is at her fingertips!¡±


    ¡°Be nice, kiddo. It won¡¯t always be easy for older individuals to find it easy to respect your authority. Jasmine does seem to have a lot to prove, but so do I and everyone else on the team you¡¯re building. Jasmine will come around. Have you gotten to talk to her about starting a clothing company? I¡¯m sure that if she sees more of a future with you that she will eventually come around.¡±


    ¡°Naw, I¡¯d rather not get too tied to someone who is either going to leave at the first sign of greener lands, or build something with me to either snake it out from underneath me, or again, leave after all the hard work and experience gained to just try and make an even better version of what we¡¯ve already made. No, with Jasmine and maybe Xani, I have to wait to see where their hearts lie,¡± said Arson. Xani and Jasmine shared a look of sorrow, felt even more deeply due to Arson¡¯s currently afflicted state, but then Arson continued.


    ¡°Again, love them both, but Xani is a genius and I don¡¯t know what I really have to offer her other than resources and friendship. And with Jasmine, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing wrong for her to not respect or maybe believe in my want to do better than I have in the past, other than give her time and remain patient. I believe she could run her own fashion agency and more, just hope it doesn¡¯t backfire. I can put on a good front all I want, but that would crush my drive if either one of them left before we could do something truly amazing as a group, we just need to work together.¡±


    The hologram shut off and all in the room looked at one another. Each considered that they had received tremendous compliments from Arson, but even larger was the pressure of responsibility. It was easy for them all to latch onto the doubt that Arson had stated he felt. However, if they ignored what he believed was possible if they all united, even after the minor achievements they had completed in only a few days, they all knew they would be the ones to lose out in the end. All while Arson pushed relentlessly forward and maybe even left them all behind.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you, buddy¡­¡± Xani spoke directly to Arson, before she looked back toward the others gathered. Khalif didn¡¯t know what to say underneath the gazes of everyone there. Yet he felt the need to repeat Xani¡¯s words, the only thing running through his own mind.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you either¡­¡± Khalif pressed a hand to the glass on his pod in Arson¡¯s direction. Rob looked between Xani and Khalif, before he stepped forward, placing a hand on Arson¡¯s pod as well.


    ¡°You gave me a chance to do something real with my talent before I even knew exactly what to do myself, little buddy. I¡¯m not going anywhere¡­¡±


    The group heard sniffles and all turned to take in Jasmine furiously wiping tears from her face. She didn¡¯t immediately step up to Arson¡¯s pod, but after her sudden surge of tears passed, she sighed and stepped forward. Slow to put her hand out, but nodding with a finality directed to her decision as she did so.


    ¡°Sometimes I wish you were still some stupid little boy that I could ignore, but with every day that passes you become more dangerous and prideful than you¡¯ve ever been. It¡¯s harder not to be proud of you when you manage to do surprising and spectacular things, even with all you have working against you, but maybe I¡¯m just mad at myself for not being confident enough to believe that I¡¯m worth everything you see in me¡­ but know this little Arson, I¡¯m not leaving you either¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Jasmine stood alone in a room full of stockpiled clothing and couldn¡¯t help but feel both excitement and fear. She¡¯d heard what Arson had said in the hologram displayed from his watch and couldn¡¯t erase the feeling that she needed to be doing more than she already was. After leaving the room where she had discussed many things with the rest of Arson¡¯s team, Jasmine realized that the majority of the complaints she had that held any legitimacy, she already had ways to overcome.


    Her thoughts drifted to Arson, then her teammates. Remembering how everyone assumed what Arson was originally starting was a gang, even though Jasmine now wondered if he was trying to start a guild of sorts.


    Can we play on that somehow¡­?


    ¡°I mean Khalif is still practically a gang leader, Arson¡¯s mom is a literal princess of crime, and Arson¡¯s reputation is no better. Why shouldn¡¯t we have that make money for us,¡± mumbled Jasmine.


    She looked around at all the clothing she¡¯d gathered and even managed to set up like a mini department store, and slowly smiled.


    ¡°We have fresh clothing, we have the sophistication of a revered cartel,¡± Jasmine said brainstorming aloud to herself.


    ¡°But what should we call ourselves? Smooth criminals¡­? Naw, that¡¯s nothing but a played trend and you know it, Jazz. What about Fine Dressed Vagabonds¡­?¡± attempted Jasmine, only to roll her eyes at even speaking her last idea out loud. She yelled in frustration, feeling that the name of what she wanted to start would be the most vital aspect of Arson¡¯s team¡¯s entire clothing brand, only to have her thoughts cut off by Troy walking into the room with a knock on the open doorway.


    ¡°You okay¡­ hope I¡¯m not interrupting?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all, just a little frustrated trying to come up with a name for the clothing brand Arson was talking about. It¡¯s not like we don¡¯t have our own little fresh cartel of orphans all willing to model anything we put out, half the kids in the orphanage would stab one another for a new outfit,¡± said Jasmine. The room went silent for a moment, and Jasmine turned around to see Troy deep in contemplation.


    ¡°Well what are you here so late for, did you drop by for that make¡ª¡°


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you call it that,¡± Troy cut in to ask suddenly. Jasmine frowning in confusion at where Troy was trying to direct her.


    ¡°Call it what?¡±


    ¡°You said we have a fresh cartel of orphans, why not call it Fresh Cartel of Orphans,¡± asked Troy with a smile. Jasmine¡¯s eyes went wide momentarily before she shook her head and smiled.


    ¡°We may always be orphans, but we don¡¯t need others to see us that way, so how about we shorten it,¡± suggested Jasmine. Troy nodding, unable to keep the smile from her features, feeling more and more rewarded each time she was seen to be a help since working with the rest of Arson¡¯s team recently.


    ¡°So am I going to be the first one dressed by the future head of one of the newest up and coming name brands in fashion or what?¡±


    Jasmine smiled and nodded, waving for Troy to sit in a nearby comfortable chair near the center of the room.


    ¡°Of course, and since you¡¯re a genius and helped come up with our name, your first makeover is on me,¡± said Jasmine as Troy sat, both young woman smiling as Jasmine rushed around, picking out clothing for Troy to try.


    ¡°Thanks, so what does this include, hair, makeup, clothes, what?¡±


    Jasmine¡¯s smile broadened and she glanced toward a wall screen serving as a floor to ceiling mirror, then toward her own makeup bag by the door, knowing that her hair dressing scissors may be tucked far in the depths of her oversized purse, then back toward Troy.


    ¡°Welcome to Fresh Cartel, darling. Whatever your fashion needs may be, we will steal from the heavens themselves before you leave our company without any and all issues being resolved.¡±

 Chapter 60: Living Weapon Masters

    Arson had to ignore the slight vibrations that came from his watch. He walked down the hall and read the notifications that had come after he survived his Fearless title being triggered. Something that Anastasia hinted would probably continue to happen more and more.


    ¡°Living weapon - you have created an instrument. A living weapon that can grow and learn as you do, *Warning, yada yada yada, wait what did that say?¡± He reread it over and over to the point that he stopped walking toward the conference room.


    ¡°By the sparks of the maiden,¡± said Arson as he pulled the weapon from his spatial inventory. The weapon immediately stopped vibrating, and Arson noted the changes that had occurred since he put the weapon away. It had grown longer and the black deepened to the point that random colors flickered through the shaft and blade of the weapon in the light.


    ¡°How much of my inventory is gone, Anna?¡± asked Arson, though afraid to know the truth.


    ¡°Around 99% is untouched, but she got to your collections of weird mana stones and dungeon cores before I could stop her. Sorry, Arson. I did try, I swear,¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°She?¡±


    ¡°Yeees, she is currently nameless by the way, which is semi disrespectful to her kind,¡± stated Anastasia with a small nod. Arson looked at the scythe that he now felt connected too, and wondered at a name.


    ¡°Vibrate if you like the name, Ocean?¡± Nothing happened and Arson sighed.


    ¡°What kind of sophisticated woman wants to be named after a large body of water? Are you calling her fat?¡± asked Anastasia with a pout toward Arson.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m naming her after the most beautiful thing I¡¯ve ever seen besides the sky itself,¡± said Arson, who felt his weapon vibrate when he said the word, Sky.


    ¡°Not ocean, but Sky?¡± The weapon answered with a simple vibration that made Arson smile.


    ¡°Well then come on Sky, we are already late.¡±


    When he walked into the silent conference room Arson wondered if the sham was up, but waited before he spoke. Until things remained silent for so long, he wondered if they were under some sort of calming skill effect.


    ¡°Everyone okay?¡± Nothing was said, most just looked between each other, with the exception of Troy who just smiled and stared down Ash.


    ¡°Weapon Master Gestalt, are you ready to begin? If so I can go and gather the Raid Corp contract team?¡± Arson nodded at Sprinter and took a seat at the opposing end of the table from Autumn. He tried not to stare down Ash in the same way his girlfriend now did, but felt cared for somehow.


    ¡°So do we get to know why we are all here now,¡± asked Autumn. Arson nodded, but still said nothing, instead casually caught up with his friends while they waited.


    ¡°You think you could survive in a red zone?¡± asked Troy. The question was directed at him, but Troy still hadn¡¯t looked away from Ash when she¡¯d asked him.


    ¡°No, absolutely not, but that doesn¡¯t mean that I wouldn¡¯t try,¡± said Arson with a laugh. Troy nodded at first, but the words seemed to register on a delay and the frown she gave him made him speak up.


    ¡°Only kidding, love, just a joke. I swear I don¡¯t plan on trying for quite some time¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll end you myself before I lose you to the dump, Carter. Know that to be as true as the honor you just gained is rare,¡± said Troy. She then immediately turned to glare at Ash once more.


    ¡°Guys, let¡¯s let this portion of the meeting complete itself, so that we may speak more freely,¡± said Arson with a gesture toward the group of new Raid Corp execs that entered. He wanted to defuse any potential animosity that may spawn early on between his siblings and his friends,. For his plans to work he would need the illusion of peace to remain present at all times.


    ¡°Hello, Royal family heirs, and members of the Black hole conglomerate, we of Raid Corp humbly welcome you to our meeting table,¡± said the young man that led the trio that entered.


    ¡°My name is Jennifer, and this is representative Leon, and Venn,¡± said the girl beside the first young man to speak. She gestured toward each young man accordingly, and Venn even bowed when she spoke his name.


    ¡°It is an honor to meet you all, it is not very often that a new weapon master is born and enters our playground, especially with such talented friends. Your level of skill with your weapon is normally more suited to the introverted type,¡± said Venn. His voice was soft to the point that Arson wondered if he was reserved in nature, and assumed as much when Venn refused to make eye contact with everyone but Arson, and Ash oddly enough. His sister seemingly unable to look away from the new groups members.


    ¡°Shall we begin?¡± asked Jennifer. She wasted no time and took a seat beside her peers. Then she began to tap away on a tablet she pulled from thin air, or a hidden spatial inventory skill or unseen item.


    The others took seats, and Arson smiled toward Autumn who gave him a nervous glance.


    I haven¡¯t talked to Autumn much, but I don¡¯t remember her being socially awkward, thought Arson to himself. He watched his eldest sister sweat, and look as if she was about to stutter, even before the first question was asked.


    The flurry of demands and offers came from all three representatives at once. Which obviously left Autumn flustered, her more introverted traits the only thing that was being displayed through her slight nods when pressured to answer, or glances toward her younger siblings for help.


    The group targeted her every weakness, and Autumn remained without support. As the eldest, she was meant to lead, and prove that she could lead in her every action and decision.


    So none there could offer any guidance, nor did most feel authorized to do so.


    By the time Arson knew that he was going to be forced to step in on his sister¡¯s behalf, the situation was already a few words from being considered a full on catastrophe. The Raid Corp representatives were skilled in a way that most common cultivators were not.


    I don¡¯t know if I would have let her beat my sister up over something as small as contractual law, maybe if I were petty I guess.


    ¡°So if you acknowledge your required terms of the contract to fulfillment, we then allow for you¡ª¡° Arson chose his timing to do multiple things at once. The first was to speak up. The second was to summon Thinker.


    The handprint on Arson¡¯s chest flashed, and everyone there felt something occur. To Arson, it was a sensation equivalent to a drug when he used mana for the first time since his return. For the others, it was a moment of pressure that made all those breathing to stop.


    ¡°You¡¯d get spun,¡± said Arson, as Thinker started to emerge from his shadow. The hooded form of himself, crawled out under his direction, to appear as if the task was a torturous struggle.


    Thinker made a good show of pain ridden grunts and cries while he stepped off of Arson¡¯s back and over his chair. No one in the room moved, even after Thinker fell to the floor heaving for air to fill his lungs. Arson truly commended his acting skills, forced to keep a straight face, even as Thinker laughed in his mind.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°My lord,¡± said Thinker from a knee at Arson¡¯s side. Only then did others begin to look at one another, and Arson loved that only Troy was able to keep shock from her facial features.


    ¡°I need you to look over this contract while I speak to her,¡± said Arson with a point toward Autumn. He then pulled a vellum from his watch¡¯s inventory, alongside a few swipes on its screen that caused a light to flash from his wrist that inscribed the previous conversation across the parchment¡¯s face.


    ¡°Look this over, I can¡¯t intercede on her behalf, but I can speak with her privately, I want you to be able to negotiate with her by the time I¡¯m done with her, am I understood?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± said Thinker. Arson came to his feet and strolled casually around the table toward his eldest sister. All eyes were on him, until Arson twirled a finger in the air. Xani missed the practiced signal, until Arson gave her a pointed look.


    ¡°Sorry bu¡ª¡° Xani stopped herself dead, and Arson couldn¡¯t help but notice her glance toward Thinker¡¯s still kneeling figure.


    ¡°Sorry, sir,¡± said Xani. Arson¡¯s guts twisted at the thought of Xani listening to him out of fear, rather than respect, but knew that the appearance of power needed to be absolute in that moment.


    Xani lifted her and Arson¡¯s newest experiment. The robotic glove on her hand made Auto¡¯s eyes bug out of his head, and Arson watched Xani force down a snort at his older brother¡¯s face when she made three hands rise into the air.


    After Arson had shared how he wore, Jack, Jill, and Jane, his Living hand Constructs, on his shoulders and back; Xani decided to do the same, not having a better system herself.


    The three hands flew above Arson and Autumn, before a small dome of sound could be seen like a glass shield, until it disappeared, and Arson spoke.


    ¡°What do you want out of this deal?¡±


    ¡­


    Autumn was confused. The question she¡¯d just been asked floored her. Made her rethink who was on her side, and even what side she wanted to be on.


    According to Ash, all of the BHC members were demon spawn, or trash born mongrels. Yet¡­


    ¡°What do I want?¡±


    Yes, what do you want,¡± said Carter Gestalt from his cross legged position on the floor in front of her.


    ¡°You seem to want to do things that help nature, and your fellow cultivator, so¡­¡± Autumn didn¡¯t know what the young man expected of her, but maybe that was the point. He didn¡¯t expect anything of her, he just wanted to know about what she¡­ wanted?


    No one had ever asked her that. She tried to think back on all the season cycles she could remember, and knew it to be true.


    ¡°Why do you want to know?¡± She may have been internally flustered, but still had enough training to remain dignified. Her parents training granted her at least that, if not the love she desired alongside her siblings.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious, I want to know because I believe that this is an opportunity for you to gain exactly that, so if you don¡¯t know what you want, then how can you even recognize a situation were you could gain it,¡± offered Carter. She didn¡¯t know if she was being pitied, but dismissed the thought because of the look in the man¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You are being serious, aren¡¯t you,¡± asked Autumn, her last attempt to see through any guise ended as she felt ridiculous feeling that the young man in front of her was trying to mislead her. The young man in front of her was determined, determined to achieve something in this moment, or even every moment that he could.


    ¡°Princess Autumn, I don¡¯t have time, to waste your time¡­¡± Autumn nodded at those words and couldn¡¯t help but look around at the room of people around her that spoke but couldn¡¯t be heard. The privacy made her feel safe in a way that allowed for her to think. So she did, a brainstorming session between her and Carter Gestalt commenced, and her life changed.


    ¡­


    ¡°So what do you think they are talking about in there,¡± whispered Troy to Xani who had a rather serious face on.


    The others chatted between one another loudly enough that no individual conversations could be heard without obvious mana usage, or skills. One skill had actually been activated and could be felt by most in the room, the skill¡¯s minor use to overhear ignored. While the other skill to overhear was too powerful for any in the room to distinguish who used it, it could be felt triggered by those in the room with the ability to use mana to enhance their hearing, Troy¡­ couldn¡¯t include herself in that group.


    ¡°Shhh, I¡¯m trying to listen to what they are talking about,¡± responded Xani with a raised hand to block Troy¡¯s intrusion into her personal space when she leaned in to whisper.


    ¡°Are you sparking kidding me, tap me into the coms, you greedy street¡ª¡°


    ¡°Finish that sentence and you¡¯ll be the only one I don¡¯t bloody let hear the conversation between those two monsters in there.¡± Troy¡¯s mouth closed and she nodded furiously at Xani¡¯s serious gaze.


    ¡°Please, with all the sparks and love in your heart, please let me hear,¡± whispered Troy with a big smile. Xani tapped a few buttons on her flatscreen, and before Troy knew it, she could hear Arson and his sister.


    ¡°So let me get this straight, those games would allow me to feed how many people,¡± asked Autumn.


    ¡°Ooh, this is probably going to be good,¡± said Troy playfully. Xani shushed her again, and Troy recognized that they had drawn some attention, especially from Auto, who probably knew what Xani was capable of.


    ¡°I¡¯d also be able to make how many points per round if we did it that way?¡± Autumn voice came through the coms and Troy and Xani couldn¡¯t help but look at one another in suspense, waiting for Arson¡¯s answer.


    ¡°Ooh,¡± said both young women when they heard his answer.


    ¡°Is he serious?¡± said Troy in excited shock. Her squeal-whisper was enough to bring the full attention of the Raid Corp representatives, as well as Rob, and Khalif.


    ¡°Girl, I don¡¯t even know, that seems like a lot,¡± said Xani at a completely normal volume.


    ¡°Sparks, if I made that much in a single game of Rampage Square I¡¯d be able to stay on the top floor for like what a few dozen fortnights, maybe longer right?¡± Troy¡¯s question to Xani prompted Rob to snap his finger at the two, who looked in his and Khalif¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Read your chat,¡± said Rob while seemingly pointing downward at nothing. Both girls frowned, and opened their Overlays. Both looked down to see a chain of messages from their party members.


    Arson: Xani, are you listening in on the coms? Shut it down if you are, it¡¯s hard enough keeping a straight face not being recognized, let alone knowing you are laughing in the background. Give my sister a break, doesn¡¯t seem like she does this often.


    *Khalif and Rob have invited you and Xani to a private chat!*


    Rob: Don¡¯t shut it down plug us in, woman, and I¡¯ll give you free meals for a week, anything you want!


    Khalif: Please! Please! Please!


    Troy looked at the mix of emotions that flickered across her face as she read the messages and bursted into laughter. She knew how hard it would be for her to pass up Rob personally cooking for her, as she didn¡¯t know if she could turn that deal down for anything.


    ¡°What you gonna do? I¡¯d take that in a heartbeat,¡± said Troy before she once again bursted into laughter.


    ¡°Shut up, Troy, and don¡¯t act like I¡¯m not potentially risking my life,¡± said Xani with a frown and a pat on her belly, before she too bursted into laughter.


    ¡°You know that I can¡¯t let you go unpaid for all of this advice, I know that you help my sister Aura grow, but I fear how my actions could lead to later downfall if I don¡¯t compensate you properly before we go any further. My honor demands at least¡ª¡° Both Troy and Xani froze when Arson cut in through Autumn words on the coms, his voice in their ears like lightning bolts that demanded their attention.


    ¡°If you mean that I will work out a permanent 13% point funnel into my own accounts and a 27% point funnel into your own for as long as they use our Feed the World premise as a primary event, additionally I will work out that this is a production from the Royal Crown Scions and the BHC, but that is only if you are choosing to share the Royalties with your siblings, not to mention this could just be an Honor mark on your own portfolio,¡± stated Arson. Troy and Xani froze in expectation after they both inhaled deeply. Suspense of what could unfold next spinning their minds in many potential directions as they waited.


    Rob: Come on a Fortnight of personal cooking, no spatial inventory food at all, not even desserts!


    Khalif: Please! Please! Please!


    ¡­


    ¡°Just sparking ask your little friends to let us hear what¡¯s going on in there, Aura, it¡¯s not a big deal obviously,¡± asked Ash with a gesture toward, Rob, Khalif, Xani, and Troy of BlackHole. The group was huddled and seemed to ooh and aah at moments too coincidentally aligned with the soundless conversation being had between Carter Gestalt and their sister, Autumn.


    ¡°Already tried, one of those outburst of laughter was aimed at me, I¡¯m pretty sure,¡± responded Aura with a sigh.


    ¡°Wish I could have been on mission today, I bet that conversation is pretty groundbreaking for our sister¡¯s shyness,¡± said Aura. Auto nodded beside Aura, having had been offered something truly amazing due to Carter Gestalt only moments before he entered the conference room himself, and Auto wondered if he would have had the same courage to speak so casually to him days ago if he would have known his strength with a scythe.


    ¡°I don¡¯t blame you, sis, I¡¯m thinking about taking both the deals being offered to me, I bet it¡¯s fun working with them,¡± said Auto with a smile. Aura smiled and nodded back at her older brother.


    ¡°It is, and¡ª¡° The room went silent once more when Carter rose to his feet and spun his finger through the air once more. Xani triggered the bubble around Carter Gestalt and their sister to pop, and somehow change the pressure in the room.


    At first Ash and the others thought it was the new weapon master of The CityNation of Maelstrom, an achievement so large it would touch the corners of the realm as a whole. Only it wasn¡¯t until Carter sat down and Autumn stood, that they all realized the pressure came not from Carter, but from Autumn.


    ¡­


    Arson returned to his seat and whispered to Thinker, ¡°Rise, and consult when necessary, no more, no less.¡±


    Thinker rose, vellum in hand and made his way toward Arson¡¯s sister.


    He watched the shift in the room. The power dynamic turned on its head.


    Autumn wasn¡¯t a new person, but a determined version of herself. It was the ferocity in her own eyes, that lit his soul ablaze.


    From the knowledge of runes, to finding my own prominence. I will become the embodiment of potential, by showing others how to find their purpose, as I live out my own.


    An alignment occurred in Arson¡¯s mind, body, and soul. The gateway above his cerebral realm opened in that moment and Arson could feel the completion of his crown begin within his soul realm. The powerful manifestation of his inner will, positioned itself in-between the gateway that was his first opened node and began to draw in power rapidly.


    Arson felt his head spin and the room flipped to the point that he didn¡¯t know his left from his right, nor up from down.


    Title granted: Limitless potential: Only those with the will to understand how dangerous the thirst for knowledge, and the potential for death in its pursuit can lead to both Purpose and Prominence. Will you show the realm how to be limitless?


    *Stat restrictions removed from Overlay*


    Title fusion triggered. Titles; Godling, The Fearless, and Limitless Potential, fuse to create: The Fearless Godling of Potential. Auto-assign triggered.


    Core completion triggered: Body core, Limitless Crown of Sovereigns chosen¡­ Time until completion 3 days.


    Arson tried to stay upright. He even tried to summon another gestalt form to support him in the moment of weakness, but no power came, everything he produced or absorbed being swallowed whole by his crown while it finished itself internally.


    Before he passed out, he only had one thought, and he said her name when he knew that whatever was occurring, may kill him in the process. He managed to speak when their eyes met.


    ¡°Troy¡­!¡±

 Chapter 73: Gravitational Mana

    Arson focused on the breathing exercise his Overlay walked him through. It was similar to the Endless breathing technique, and even claimed to be the true version of the technique within his Overlay.


    Arson struggled with the cycled breathing heavily at first. He found the training lessons prompts and corrective directions jarring. While in his soul realm in a meditation, every wrong action was emphasized by a siren blaring back at him, or the instant ejection of his mind and will from his soul realm completely.


    Once forced from his mind, images of what he should have done were presented, and he was given an option to attempt what he¡¯d been shown before he¡¯d been shown.


    At first he¡¯d felt he¡¯d just been handed the perfect training tool by the system. Then after he¡¯d been thrusted from his soul a dozen times merely trying to start the technique correctly, he grew frustrated.


    You would have to perform the technique perfectly to be able to¡­


    Arson cursed mentally at the realization that the techniques offered to be trained required perfection. Not that the same instructions given would be perfect for everyone, but they were at least structured for him. Thus what would be required would be perfect for him.


    ¡°I guess all I can do is practice,¡± said Arson. Time passed on the rooftop, and he found himself lost within the engineering section under the training tab of his Overlay.


    ¡°A break never hurt, right?¡± said Arson flipping through different styles of handles that could be constructed for his scythe. Three of the options stood out the most to him, and he considered them all intimately before he chose the simplest of the three.


    Arson looked at the circular handle that would be centered within the shaft of his weapon if he was able to construct the rotating hand guard. The perfect circles one slightly larger than the other would allow Arson to spin the large weapon like a fan.


    The outer circle was connected to the shaft of the weapon. Once completed it would look as if two halos had been bisected by the shaft of his scythe, fused perfectly between their centers.


    The hand grip in the center when squeezed would retract the smaller circle it was connected to inward toward the wielders hand. This would cause a line of friction based runes that lined the outside of the smaller ring to separate from a set of gravitational runes that caused rotational thrust, that were placed on the larger of the two rings.


    The inner ring even when compressed by the wielder¡¯s grip still eclipsed the external ring. A hollowed concave pipe-like trim would line the outside of the external ring and create a latch and seal, the frame designed to ensure the two seemingly separate pieces remained connected.


    The runes on the outer ring would be powered by Arson¡¯s own mana, and only limited by how much power he could output and the durability of the weapon. He wanted to make this improvement immediately, but lacked an integral agent that would be necessary for the build.


    ¡°What the sparks is TitanSteel tree sap?¡±


    Arson ended up spending much of that day trying to figure out what he could build with the ingredients he had on hand, and eventually found an area within his training tab that showed him exactly that.


    He found the list to be odd. Mostly filled with potions, random small buildings, tools, and a few skills he didn¡¯t understand the uses of yet.


    ¡°Potion of crystalline recollection, purge the mind of what dilutes the senses.¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t know precisely what all the potions did, their descriptions very vague, but the potion that had caught his interest had done so because of his current situation..


    If this makes it so that I can roam the school without being affected by the formations built in to the campus or the headmaster¡¯s abilities, that would be worthwhile,¡± said Arson in contemplation. Without a second thought, he started to pull the required tools from his watch''s inventory to construct the potion.


    Items collected throughout time and space surrounded him with the wave of a hand, and Arson smiled at the thought of crafting anything after what felt like a lifetime.


    He¡¯d been so lost in the trials, that he hadn¡¯t tinkered with a single item since he¡¯d left the orphanage or longer even. The only thing he¡¯d made since then were his living hands, Jack, Jill, and Jane.


    Jack was still in a hibernation of sorts, the sensation of a required sleep still pulsed through his connection with the construct. While Jill and Jane flew about him and provided extra hands.


    Jill, held a brewing pot while flames poured from the constructs fingertips and palms. The large medicine ball sized pot was pushed to rotate slowly by the white tipped blue flames to ensure the contents were evenly heated through the entire brewing process.


    Arson made sure to stir slowly like the visual guide that his training tab offered; Jane was able to drop ingredients to either side of his hand while he worked. The preparation of ingredients didn¡¯t come easy to Arson so the first few potions were failures.


    Hmm, I wonder¡­


    Arson took time to prepare every step before he started brewing for his next attempt, and found the change in fluidity while he brewed had improved tremendously. After a while longer Arson read over the notification that signified that he¡¯d brewed the potion to completion and smiled at the effort.


    ¡°Potion of crystalline Recollection, 75% refined, quality rank: D+. Purge of foreign, parasitic, and ethereal Uni-Vare elements, 33-37% toxin removal accuracy. Potential for mana poison assimilation of new elements, 0%.


    ¡°Well for a first success, I won¡¯t be too angry, but I¡¯m not drinking something with a failing grade,¡± said Arson with a laugh. The next few potions he completed were much of the same quality, with one exception, being rated a B-. It was this potion that he chose to sip from to see the effects on his body.


    Here goes nothing¡­ The liquid from the small glass vials he''d used to bottle his attempts touched his lips, and even as the refreshing taste of the juice-like substance washed across his tongue like water he was unable to focus on the delicious and refreshing potion while the world around him changed visually.


    When he¡¯d arrived early that morning, everything he¡¯d seen had been pristine. The very image of perfection and luxury. Now though, a new reality could be seen beneath a view veiled by illusionary formations, and the nearly tyrannical power of the Headmaster of Adroit Academy.


    Waterfalls were filled with trash, grime and debris. Sections of the wildlife and vegetation that was woven into every other aspect of the campus was either overgrown, on fire, or had visible signs of rot that infested the trees up from the roots all the way to the tips of the tree limbs.


    The greatest of Arson¡¯s worries came from the sections of flying buildings that had once looked like an advancement unrivaled in the industry of construction and architecture, while now the truth was seen. Most of the foundations that supported the large buildings housed mile long cracks. This was on top of the outright dilapidated structures that seemed to either have already fallen over, or were about to cave in on themselves.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    This included the building Arson now sat atop, and if what he¡¯d already seen hadn¡¯t scared him enough, he started to take in the faces of those around.


    Cultivators could be seen in every direction, either with a dead eyed gaze that reminded Arson of cultivators affected by demonic plagues, or with a drained visage that told Arson they weren¡¯t far from appearing in the same state as their worse-off peers and companions.


    The only other kind of student seen, were absolutely healthy. They were filled with life and vigor, an oddity that spoke directly to the wrongness of the situation, as they even seemed unable to see those around them with less energy than themselves. Almost as if the less powerful were unable to be seen by those who thrived in the illusionary environment.


    Arson was on his feet, and amidst a slow spin when he realized that the school had recently been under attack. A field meant for war-games held a destroyed vessel that Arson was familiar with from a completely different realm, half destroyed by a crash landing. Another forest was ablaze and seemed to be in the middle of being consumed by an odd storm that dropped acidic raindrops the size of Arson¡¯s head.


    He had no idea how any of what he saw within the forest was possible until he noted a puddle exploded with flames after being struck by a random lightning bolt.


    This is the once proud Adroit Academy¡­?


    Arson knew now why the headmaster was so adamant about her students memories being tampered with. As one of the SunSpire realms most prominent institutions, this was no longer a place worth a trillion credits per class taken, but instead seemed to be a run down mountain that Olympians would never dare to send their children to, and may have been why his own mother seemed reticent to intrust his own development to its inhabitants.


    ¡°Anastasia, you can see how this place really looks, can¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yup!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to have to do something about this or I don¡¯t think I will be able to attend, if this is what the top school is hiding, I can only imagine what my other options have hidden beneath the cloth¡­¡± Arson sighed and though his words had been rhetorical, Anastasia still responded, only making Arson¡¯s underserved feelings of responsibility for the state of his mother¡¯s alma mater settle fully upon his shoulders.


    ¡°Yup!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Hey, you seen that weird guy building the small shop on that random rooftop in the third halo,¡± asked one student to another as they rode the hover rail to class.


    ¡°No, but I heard a rumor about it, the guy up there seems to be selling some top notch potions to those who can manage to make it onto the roof over there though. Why? You''re not interested in going over there, are you?¡±


    ¡°Not really, but a girl I know said that she ended up on the roof while she practiced the schools climbing challenge, and left feeling more revitalized than she had felt in months.¡±


    ¡°What made her say something like that? I haven¡¯t been able to sleep since I got here,¡± joked the student, but both knew just how true the statement really had been. Both aware of the bags that grew underneath both their eyes.


    ¡°Something about tai chi, a massage with a life coach, and a potion, not sure what to believe here.¡±


    ¡°Sparks, that does sound nice. Want to check it out after class?¡±


    ¡°Sure, not like I have anything else planned.¡±


    A few days passed and the two students hadn¡¯t actually visited. Neither one had any real interest in the rumors at first, but now¡­


    ¡°Hey, I think today is the day we should go,¡± said one student randomly.


    ¡°Really, I was just thinking the same thing,¡± said the other, but before they could confirm their plans, the exact rooftop in question came into view in the distance; both students shocked by the mass of people on the rooftop even before the sun had truly risen in the sky.


    Holy sparks¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Troy walked through the portal to Adroit Academy, alongside the rest of the builders of godhood. All of them were blown away by what they saw there.


    They all hadn¡¯t been accepted as students, but were the equivalent to being enrolled as long as Arson attended classes there.


    ¡°So where are we supposed to meet the boss, this place is sparking huge,¡± asked Rob while he eyed the entrance to a large restaurant nearby. Troy shrugged, overtaken by the sudden want to run toward the school at an unreasonable speed and start to climb.


    ¡°Where is he going?¡± asked Xani with a point toward Khalif, who had taken off in a dead sprint toward a small set of buildings at the edge of the campus grounds.


    ¡°Wait, where are you going?¡± asked Jasmine as Troy also took off seemingly after Khalif, until she overtook him entirely and continued on.


    ¡°Should I put cameras on them,¡± asked Lane. To which Jasmine gave her a quick nod.


    ¡°yeah, we don¡¯t know if they are about to get into anything that could be worthy content¡­¡±


    ¡°This place is so big. Is Arson still not answering his holo-calls?¡± asked Xani.


    ¡°No, and I doubt just asking for a tall guy with cool looking eyes is going to get us what we want,¡± stated Jasmine, but to all of their surprises, a nearby student turned around from the group he conversed with and waved at them. They all looked at one another, and Xani even pointed at herself confused by the sudden and unprovoked interaction.


    ¡°Yeah you guys, you guys wouldn¡¯t happen to be looking for shop keep of the third halo would you?¡±


    ¡­


    Arson was growing more and more accustomed to the thought of having to restore Adroit Academy to its former glory. He¡¯d even told his friends to forgo coming to join him until he had a true sense of whether or not he¡¯d actually be attending the school.


    Since then Arson began to work toward things that he believed would be vital for him to complete the recovery task he¡¯d assigned to himself. No he wouldn¡¯t be able to restore the campus overnight, nor maybe even this season cycle, but his growing list of responsibilities left him more determined than ever.


    Shouldn¡¯t be harder than my life long goal of cleaning up the dump.


    Though Arson knew he would be able to complete the tasks, the campus was incomparable to the dump in scale or scope by many magnitudes.


    He¡¯d started by reinforcing the roof he worked from with a mixture of sand and a molten mana compound. He¡¯d seen many new Keepers lose their title and right to land ownership after constructing a new building atop an old foundation, only to watch their life¡¯s work cave in on itself when maximum capacity was exceeded for what was said to be... functional.


    Once completed the new solid floor that sat atop the once shaky roof, weighed down the structure beneath itself enough to stop the subtle sway Arson recognized after a day of being there.


    The new floor also attracted many onlookers, who both stopped by and began to make regular conversation with Arson. Having had forgotten to give back the potions he confiscated from Rob, Arson also sold potions to those who visited him on the roof.


    The majority of his free time was spent learning something called Tai Chi, which his training tab had a complete compendium on for offensive, defensive, and body refinement portions of the mana infused martial forms and techniques. This included a set of massages that could release toxins from the muscles, blood, and even joints, tendons and bones.


    After being seen practicing the forms, cultivators had both asked to join him, for classes on the techniques that made black sludge pour from the bodies of those who led less toxin free lifestyles, as well as asked for paid massages that did the same.


    After the first day of this, many had returned with complaints that though they felt better, removing the sludge seemed impossible, and many worried that they would end up ingesting the foul material once more slowly through their pores if something wasn¡¯t done.


    This hurdle plagued Arson for much of an afternoon, until he found a potion that could be used to bathed in, and that would eviscerate the sludge he now knew was unrefined mana, and materials known to be dead, that only aided a certain type of dark mana cultivator known as a Necromancer. Why the sludge was useful in their bodies and no-one else? He remained unsure, as his guesses all seemed unrealistic.


    Luckily for Arson, the main ingredient of the epsom bomb potion required a salt that was commonly found in the seaside caves near to Adroit Academy, and after a few conversations with his new patrons, Arson gained access to a supply.


    He now had both a way to help the students of the school feel refreshed and saw less and less haggard students within the third halo, but wondered how the other halos were and if his actions would effect the status of the surrounding portions of the school, as well as a new income.


    Then the number of students that visited grew, and he gained new problems. One being privacy for those who needed baths after the work Arson did with them or to them. While another problem was manpower.


    Arson could only massage an individual at a time, and the classes by the end of the second day had become so frequent, that Arson had to put a hard cap on how much time he could offer to those interested in Tai Chi.


    While the students slept that night. Arson listened to music while he constructed a small pagoda. The spiritual building was said to offer certain perks to those who used the building, such as enriched meridians, or mana veins, in addition to restorative mana and life force effects that would be noticeable throughout the body after a few visits.


    By the next morning, the building had been completed. With the help of hard light mana, Jill, Jane and Arson¡¯s lack of the need for sleep, the small building of glass and refined sandstone was completed in a night. Only for Arson to be surprised by the words used in his direction when he opened the buildings front door for the first time to his first ever customers.


    ¡°Good morning, are you here for a class, potion or massage,¡± asked Arson as the sound of the doors runic wind chime went off and he turned around to see a curious young man an obvious question on his face.


    ¡°Ahh¡­ no... I was wondering if you were hiring?¡±

 Chapter 74: Reasons To Press On

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t I know you from somewhere?¡± Arson nodded at the young man he knew to be named Oscar. His own mind playing through the young man¡¯s kidnapping in a night club. He watched as recognition slowly crept across his face, and he pointed at Arson.


    ¡°You''re the dude that put me inside the box that ain¡¯t really a box, and it had that one smoking hot chick with the swords!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the one, but I¡¯d be careful saying that about Micro out loud while she¡¯s around, saw her cut... and you know what? Never mind. Can I help you with anything, massage, tai chi study, maybe a fine potion?¡± Arson gave his best salesman performance, showing off Rob¡¯s potions with an extra flare, Oscar momentarily showing interest after seeing the quality, only to look back at Arson and refocus directly on him once more.


    ¡°Woah, what the sparks was that? You a Mesmer or something?¡± Arson laughed slightly at Oscar''s words, wanting to work on his more social skills was beginning to pay off, the spiral of his eyes something he¡¯d never attempted to use until he started to sell potions on top the roof.


    ¡°Nothing sir, just wanted you to see our valuable merchandise,¡± said Arson, lifting another potion in the air with the assistance of Jill, his living hand construct.


    He was glad that he¡¯d completed Jill and Jane during the trials within Endless with everyday that passed without him being able to connect with his first living hand properly.


    ¡°That is a good looking, what in the embers are you doing to me, you sparking kidnapping piece of¡ª¡° The sound of Arson¡¯s watch cut Oscar off, and Anastasia spoke up.


    ¡°The old lady is calling again, I don¡¯t think she would call this much if it wasn¡¯t important,¡± Arson sighed and raised a hand toward Oscar and answered his watch.


    ¡°Sorry about this, one second. Hey Momma Almarine, is everything okay?¡± Oscar frowned when Arson turned around to greet the hologram of an adjacent realm icon. Oscar turned back to look at the small group that he entered with and they all looked as baffled or confused as Oscar felt.


    ¡°Who is this guy¡­?


    ¡°Yes dear, I just wanted to check in on you, as well as let you know that Mr Kim has scheduled¡ª¡°


    ¡°A raid on the dump, yeah my mom told me, he isn¡¯t still giving the orphans trouble, is he?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and no, some of the boycotts he¡¯s put on letting the orphans buy from local markets was a problem, but your shipments of clothing and trade supplies has helped in our efforts tremendously,¡± said Almarine obviously reserved in her words, facial expressions kept tight in a way that Arson was familiar with.


    ¡°You''re procrastinating, what is it?¡± said Arson. A dagger thrown verbally that Arson knew would give the woman a slight mental push toward sharing.


    ¡°How dare you¡­?¡±


    ¡°You called me, Momma Almarine, and I¡¯d answer your call in the middle of a supernova, but let''s not act like I¡¯m not a busy person, again, one that loves you, still busy though,¡± said Arson with a laugh. The woman frowned at him, and nodded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hang up on me, or I¡¯ll make Anastasia hack your systems,¡± blurted Arson with an odd feeling.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of your little computer box,¡± said Almarine.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you either built this watch yourself, or know who did personally, and I¡¯m also sure you care about me, but not enough to have my face follow you across every available screen in the orphanage, after I have Anastasia remove the ability for you to hang up or shut off your flatscreen,¡± threatened Arson with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°If you were in the realm I¡¯d be showing you why I raised you properly and how not speaking to your elders properly can and will end badly,¡± said Almarine. Arson glanced at the growing line and Oscar who still stared him down.


    ¡°I want a sparking rematch. Right here! Right now!¡± yelled Oscar. Arson did his best not to roll his eyes, but failed when he heard Almarine snicker. He looked back at his wrist and smiled.


    ¡°Call me back when you actually want to talk Momma Almarine,¡± said Arson, then he ended the call. To nearly everyone''s shock including his own.


    I may pay for that, but I have a lot to do.


    ¡°Okay so what exactly do you want, sir?¡± Arson asked as he turned to face Oscar, almost as if they¡¯d never spoken.


    ¡°What do you mean, what do I want? I want a rematch, no weapons, just me and you,¡± growled Oscar. In Arson¡¯s best salesperson response, Arson responded quickly.


    ¡°We don¡¯t serve rematch here sir, but I can offer you a scheduled private tai chi lesson if you are interested?¡± Oscar looked at the group he came with and even a few of the other random patrons who¡¯d entered baffled by what he was being presented with.


    ¡°Uhh¡ª¡°


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, the line is growing and your time is up, but you can start again from the end of the line if you¡¯d like, or come back later. NEXT!¡± Jill and Jane softly guided the young man aside, and directed him toward the end of the line. Oscar waited through the entire line again, this time determined to get what he wanted.


    ¡°I want a re- No, I would like to schedule a tai chi private lesson,¡± said Oscar, the course of his words changing with each facial expression Arson made in his direction.


    ¡°I want a slot for right now... I mean... for as early as possible,¡± said Oscar next his continual shift in tone and speech being influenced by the elevation of Arson¡¯s brow.


    Arson smiled as the young man stepped to the side, and joined a small group of individuals there for a class or private lesson.


    Oscar had originally been on the hunt for a part-time job, changing his mind once he¡¯d recognized the very person that helped his parents come to the determination that he needed to be cut off from the family¡¯s wealth.


    It wasn¡¯t Oscar¡¯s fault that their fight had resulted in the destruction of the nightclub. Arson had even admitted to the young man that he¡¯d knock the entire establishment over before he let Oscar escape, and that he had many more targets to get to that day.


    At first, Oscar felt he had fought admirably, then the fight was flipped on its head, the very words Arson spoke to Oscar still filled his mind frequently even up to that very day.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this but I am on the clock here, so I¡¯m going to have to try this new stance on you, and see if it works¡­¡± Oscar was taken back to the fight mentally every time the words rang throughout his mind.


    The simple weapon Arson had held was rather long, and seemed built to be held in the young man¡¯s hand. The new stance he developed far less destructive than his Flicker stance, but the perpetual motion of the stance put a heavy demand on his body.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Unknowingly to Oscar, the stance was copied from his own Living Hand constructs use of scythes during the Endless trials. Even now after he¡¯d begun to devour the legacy energies of the Scythe, he still felt less skilled with the weapon type than his three Living Hands.


    Oscar¡¯s flexibility, versatility, and incredible ability to perform quick burst of movements, made him a perfect target for Arson¡¯s practice, which Arson didn¡¯t pass up.


    Oscar watched as the weapon had swept toward his chest, aimed at his heart with deadly intent. He lifted his left leg to block in a high kick that should have knocked the blade off course.


    Instead, the shaft of Arson¡¯s weapon rotated smoothly in his grip. The blade redirected , sliding smoothly down Oscar¡¯s lifted leg. And hooked silently around the opposing leg he used for stability.


    The first time Oscar was slung through the air, he¡¯d been shocked. The sound of screaming patrons, booming music, and the eventual sound of his body flying through a stone wall merged into a single blaring ring. Oscar had felt he¡¯d been struck by a powerful air mana cultivator, a sound like a piercing alarm disrupted what little balance he had when he¡¯d tried to come to his feet.


    Oscar remembered his struggle to get upright. The feeling of the strength leaving his arms as he tried to pull himself up using the countertop¡¯s edge above himself.


    When Arson had stepped through the hole into the bar¡¯s kitchen, the young man still having an entire conversation with someone on his watch, when he¡¯d looked over at Oscar in that moment, unbothered by the fire and rubble as it rained down around him.


    ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to just give up?¡± Oscar should have said yes. His cultivator¡¯s pride told him to fight, but the spin of the stars in the young man¡¯s eyes spoke of an endless void of stars, hungry for Oscar¡¯s life and will itself. He shook his head and a voice came from the watch alongside a heavy sigh.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why you even bother little buddy, not even the maiden herself could come down from the heavens and convince these idiots that they could lose¡­¡± After those words were spoken everything else was a blur for the young man,Oscar remembered being flung out a window. Being thrown through a few more walls, and maybe even being caught in the air by Arson¡¯s scythe before being slammed bodily through the floor below the nightclub¡­ maybe?


    The order of events were jumbled in his mind, but he didn¡¯t care. He¡¯d later figured out he¡¯d lost to a living weapon master named, Carter Gestalt, and the far too expensive property damage taxes would be paid by Oscar and not the man who¡¯d beaten him handily.


    After a while, Oscar watched the young man work, and couldn¡¯t help but reconsider asking the man he knew to be known as Carter for the job he still needed.


    The environment in the shop he ran was pleasant. Soft music played, and Oscar couldn¡¯t help but join in the stances being shown to the classes he hosted, especially after seeing all the sludge that was pouring from his fellow students'' bodies. While none came out of the young man who led the class, nothing but crystal clear liquid that looked more like water than sweat being excreted from his pores.


    ¡°Finally, it''s my turn,¡± said Oscar.¡± On his feet and ready to go, he was approached by Carter.


    ¡°So how would you like to spend your time, I can either instruct you in forms that may remove the most toxins from your body, we can try some more practical exercises, there are some pressure point practices that I¡¯m not completely educated in involved with that, but I am willing to try if you are?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the second option seems better. Am I too defend myself during this, or am I to attack you? How does this work?¡± asked Oscar hoping for more of an explanation, but instead Arson bowed at the waist and smiled.


    ¡°Let¡¯s begin." Oscar lifted his arms to defend himself, and instantly felt his right forearm go numb.


    ¡°For those of you who are following this demonstration, I will slow down some of the movements, for your practicing purposes,¡± said Arson. Toxins had already started to leak from Oscar¡¯s right arm; Arson already having had struck three points in the young man¡¯s wrist as he raised it a moment prior.


    ¡°Did you see him move at all?¡± asked one of the young men bathing in the distance. Their audience engaging in discussions all around them as Arson moved around Oscar.


    The young man tried to defend himself from being struck by Arson, determined to let no more attacks land on his skin, only for Arson to move so quickly that they were closer than an arm span away from one another in a blink.


    What Oscar thought at first to be punches with how quickly Arson struck out each time, ended up being feather light touches that caused pressure within any muscle group Arson aimed for.


    Primarily he focused on Oscar¡¯s torso, as this was where most if not all Cultivators kept the majority of their accumulated impurities. While others like Arson was forced to purge toxins mostly from their skull, eyes, or brain.


    ¡°What is all this?¡± Oscar felt like his body grew slighter in build, a defense trained in him by soldiers from battles experienced before either young man had even been thought of by their parents, was picked apart piece by piece.


    He¡¯d thought fighting the weapon master was the best bet for him now while he wasn¡¯t holding his weapon. While Arson had long made a game of having his tai chi students try to use the forms he¡¯d taught them to defend from him striking points on their body that would release the black ooze from within.


    Arson pushed aside the thoughts on how much better his students faired. He wanted to remain separate from the academy¡¯s inner workings as much as possible, under the notion that he may not become a student.


    I could ignore the signs of poor combat capability all around me, if things weren¡¯t so similar.


    A field that stuck out in Arson¡¯s memory was that of the area with the destroyed foreign vessel obviously from another realm. A realm unfamiliar to Arson, as he¡¯d never seen the style of ship before, but he had seen the same types of crashes occur during invasions.


    Even while he moved slowly around Oscar, Arson thought about what he may face if he truly committed and sighed.


    He closed his eyes and continued his work. Those around him going silent as what Arson did seemed impossible for anyone their own age to be capable of.


    Then his watch rang with a holo-call and Arson paused, opening his eyes with a smile.


    ¡°Hello Xani, what¡¯s going on? Is everybody here?¡± An image of his white haired friend was displayed and she immediately began to scream.


    ¡°Embers, kid! I mean... no spark that! I didn¡¯t force you to be a time traveler of all things, you just jumped back in and expect everything to be fine but now, you¡¯ve done too much for your little boy britches!¡±


    ¡°Woah, Xani, calm down. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Did you just tell me to calm down, little boy? I will blow your whole ember licking operation up. First you disappear and I¡¯m like "nope, we good," then you came back, and I¡¯m like "yup, knew we was good," now you bring us to lunatic mountain? I bet I use my emergency coin from Jade and leave before you make me do anything in this pile of bloody embers!¡± Arson turned back to Oscar, Xani continuing to yell through his watch. The young man looked dazed and as if he¡¯d just woken up from a particularly deep nap.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it looks like I need to go handle some things, but I¡¯m going to leave some attendants here for you all, and services should continue just fine.¡± Arson closed his eyes, whispered a single word and two forms stepped free from his shadow with smooth silent steps.


    Two forms was his current maximum while sealed for now. Temper and Thinker the ones he determined worthy of the task.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted a duel, my guy? I¡¯ll duel you, there¡¯s this kick I¡¯m working on where I... you know what? Don¡¯t worry about it, I¡¯ll show you. Glory is going to freak when I tell him I finally did it,¡± said Temper. He approached Oscar who didn¡¯t understand what was happening, just that he¡¯d been dragged off and thrown into a tub full of a strange sudsing water that ate the dark material off his skin.


    Thinker positioned himself behind a counter Arson made to sell potions, bath products, and exercise clothing Jasmine had forced into his inventory in case he met someone famous who like their brand.


    ¡°Are you even paying any attention, you brat!¡±


    A light flickered in the side of Arson¡¯s eyes so quickly Arson wondered if maybe a teacher had used some sort of movement technique nearby. Arson ignored the flash, but felt he shouldn¡¯t have, the odd light a struggle to push toward the back of his mind no matter how hard he tried.


    He opened the doors to his shop, and exited his focus once more on the agitated Xani.


    ¡°Yes, mom, I¡¯m paying attention," joked Arson, his attempt to defuse her anger again failing.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t know your mother and enjoy her cooking, I¡¯d call her out her name right now. Khalif is in a death match with an insane amount of¡ª" Xani¡¯s hologram ducked and a fan of knives arced through the air above her head.


    ¡°Rob ran somewhere at the first sight of bloody food, and your girlfriend, of course, took off. Who knows where in the embers she is, and your goofy face is making me want to smack you!¡± Arson realized Xani was flying, and felt a pang at knowing he currently couldn¡¯t manage the same feat. He¡¯d tried to side step the system restriction, but decided not to try again unless his life depended on it.


    The seal on his arm had began to burn, and the research he¡¯d done on seals since receiving the one on his palm, was intensive.


    Many who¡¯d broken seals had lost limbs, and though Arson¡¯s regeneration abilities were impressive, there were many with grander capabilities than Arson currently that had lost limbs to seals that had not grown back at all. Explosions with a sacrifice unlike any other for Cultivators.


    ¡°Where are you, Xani? I¡¯m on my way now,¡± When Xani responded next, Arson could only shake his head as he jumped from the roof top.


    ¡°About time, old man, could you move any slower!¡±

 Chapter 147.21: Fortnight 13: Bursting at the Seams

    ¡°Today is the day,¡± said Seneschal. He looked around at the others that sat at the table with him, and grinned.


    There with him were Alister Kim, Queen Amorra ManaMonarch, Bernard Maelstrom, Caspian Coin, Chozen Lilith Crown,, her brothers, Orbit and Tartaria, and the youngest prince of the realm of Maelstrom, Alexander Archon. There were many other powerful figure heads at the table, but Seneschal felt them to be only partially valuable to the efforts of the war to come.


    The individuals all conversed casually, and Seneschal found himself shocked at how well this organization of terrorists and HonorBorn nobles seemed to fit like misshapen puzzle pieces, forced to fit within the same boundaries.


    After a while a woman strode into the room and was guided toward Alexander. The woman¡¯s wide-eyed gaze let Seneschal know that the woman must have recognized some of the faces in the room and was astonished at the sight.


    Finally she and the guards that escorted her stopped beside the prince and she leaned in to whisper. The words came to Seneschal¡¯s ears as if they¡¯d been spoken directly to him, making the demon¡¯s brow raise.


    ¡°If I find a way, I¡¯m going to kill you, you little brat, and that¡¯s not all, I¡¯m going to¡ª¡°


    Alexander cut the woman off with a raised hand. The young boy¡¯s gesture powerful, making not only the princess he¡¯d been talking to pause, but the woman who was speaking to as well.


    ¡°Waste any more of my time and you won¡¯t have any more time to waste,¡± started Alexander, glaring at the woman beside him before he smiled back at Princess Chozen Crown.


    ¡°Have you finished what I needed of you?¡±


    The woman nodded, and the prince¡¯s smile deepened.


    ¡°Good, have the guards take you home, I will contact you soon with payment.¡±


    ¡°Payment, what kind of payment?¡±


    Alexander just glared up at the woman, and Seneschal couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the grumbled response she returned as she was escorted out the room.


    ¡°Abduct me, and then threaten my life only to pay me in the end, must be true what they say about HonorBorn children all being crazy¡­¡±


    Alexander¡¯s gaze shifted to Seneschal¡¯s from halfway down the long table and nodded, giving the demon the signal that their task was complete. The final piece of what the group needed to accomplish to take the realm of Maelstrom as a whole was enough that even Seneschal had begun to believe it to be potentially impossible, yet¡­


    ¡°If I may¡­¡±


    Everyone in the room looked in his direction and Seneschal pressed his hands on the table in front of him, taking in the gazes of an incredible number of renowned individuals and began.


    ¡°I have good news,¡± continued Seneschal and all around fell silent.


    ¡°Our project is done and the final step of our plan can now begin.¡±


    ¡°That is amazing, I was beginning to believe that the goal we¡¯d set forth was never going to come to pass,¡± said Alister Kim, giving Seneschal a supportive nod as he spoke.


    ¡°So¡­ we can really do it now,¡± started Chozen. The princess of the foreign realm was more excited than many there, as her want for the plan to succeed was higher than many there.


    ¡°That would be amazing,¡± finished Amorra. The Queen and the princess beside her both had much to gain if the machine they¡¯d developed worked, and Seneschal couldn¡¯t help but smile as he nodded toward both of them.


    ¡°Yes, we will start with the realm layer first, and then begin the expansion to other realms soon,¡± responded Seneschal. The demon couldn¡¯t hide his own excitement, slowly bringing his hands together. Though the gesture was performed at glacial speeds, the clap that emanated rang throughout the room.


    ¡°This will be the grandest spectacle anyone has ever witnessed,¡± said Seneschal. He looked at those gathered once more and pulled down the hood of his cowled jacket, letting his long black hair fall free.


    His pure ivory horns came into existence like that of a stag¡¯s own antlers. Normally hidden by the spacial pocket of his jackets hood, his horns made all around stare wide-eyed.


    Though Seneschal¡¯s voice sounded like that of a gruff old man, and his beard was as grey and white as any Sekt elder, his facial features were like that of a middle aged man in his prime. While his horns were as refined as an Ancient DragonKin male. The horns forming a crown around his head, both elegant and terrifying to take in.


    Seneschal¡¯s smile grew at the faces of those around him and he spread his arms wide.


    ¡°Soon, Cloud Lake, Ascension and the realm of Maelstrom will become one, and a new dawn will begin.¡±


    It was then that Bernard lifted his glass and gestured all around, clinking glasses with the sneering Caspian.


    ¡°Cheers, to the dawn of a new age!¡±


    ¡­


    Arson walked toward a burned section of the City of Palaces that he¡¯d never seen before. Not even from the vantage point he¡¯d visited the day he arrived.


    It wasn¡¯t until the moment he stood in front of the scorched ring that lined the perimeter of the massive library that he was even able to truly set his eyes on the home of tomes and knowledge.


    He looked around and realized that if he wasn¡¯t looking directly at the structure, he couldn¡¯t see it at all. It wasn¡¯t until Anastasia spoke up that he understood why.


    ¡°Look at the scorch marks.¡±


    Arson gave the burn lines left in a circular pattern a second look, and was able to distinguish the runic patterns scorched into the ground. The tribal-like symbols somehow beautifully eccentric and chaotic in nature all at the same time.


    ¡°That seems¡­¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t know how to feel. He knew instinctually that if he didn¡¯t have the library grounds as his absolute focus, that he would forget what the building looked like with every blink that he took. Even in the briefest moment that he glanced toward Light behind him, Arson had to struggle to return his eyes to the library.


    It''s no wonder that none within the city visits this place.


    ¡°You can¡¯t seriously be headed in there!¡±


    Arson chuckled at the flailing Light, the young elf wrapped in an ever tightening cage of draconic bones that Arson connected to one of his ChainArrows to make it easier to drag him through the streets of his home.


    ¡°Of course I am, Nightlight, why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Because it is a place where the strong go to die, a place where only truly horrific things lie, where even gods hide their secrets and mistakes. Just let me go and I will never bother you again, I will forget I even knew your name, as will time itself, I promise!¡±


    Arson looked at his wrist then, and Anastasia¡¯s widened eyes met Arson¡¯s own before he felt an imperceptible shrug returned in response to his questioning gaze. Arson returned a shrug of his own and sighed heavily.


    ¡°I suppose you can wait outside for me right here, Nightlight, just be good and try and keep the screaming to a minimum.¡±


    Arson fired the arrow Light was connected to, the arrow lodged itself deep into the marble of the perimeter wall at the top edge. Light screamed as Arson lightly kicked off the ground and drifted upward toward the upper ledge of the perimeter wall, stepping into the library grounds in two steps.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Come on, you can¡¯t leave me here!¡±


    Arson ignored the screams. His mind consumed by how light his steps were. He felt as if he could fly since he learned the movement technique during his recent training, losing himself in the freedom his new elusive skill gave him.


    ¡°You''re so simple sometimes, you know that, right?¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t even look down to answer his watch, growing more excited by the sight of the seven towers that surrounded a skyscraper so tall that its top couldn¡¯t be seen. The surrounding towers were like that of a staircase, each one taller than the last. The structures all connected by enclosed bridges that wrapped around the main building in a spiral.


    ¡°Simple how?¡±


    ¡°You are smiling like it''s your birthday and you''re about to try cake for the first time, and I don¡¯t know if it''s because there may be books in there for you to read, or if it''s because you want to try and climb that bloody building that is filled with demons for all we know¡­¡±


    ¡°Am I really that transparent?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well, between you and me, it''s both of those reasons exactly!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Son of a DemonSpawn¡­¡±


    Stream cursed, and Camilla giggled as they approached the library.


    ¡°Your friend has an odd sense of humor, doesn¡¯t he.¡±


    Stream looked over at Light, who glared at him and Camilla.


    ¡°Let me down from here, now!¡±


    Light kicked his feet frantically, trying to dislodge himself, and Stream did his best not to laugh, knowing that the situation was already bad enough. Yet, he couldn¡¯t help himself.


    The ridiculousness of the entire occurrence made Stream chuckle aloud, shaking his head slowly at the sight before him. Before Arson arrived the sight of Light being captured like a common criminal and hung from a wall would have been an absurdity, but now after spending time with the young Cultivator he was honestly more surprised that it hadn¡¯t occurred sooner.


    ¡°Should we let him down,¡± Stream asked Camilla, but she shook her head before responding.


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t have time... do you see how high up Arson is already?¡± Camila said with an almost completely vertical point upward toward the shortest of six towers around the main structure.


    ¡°Sparks, I didn¡¯t even see him up there.¡± Stream focused, only truly able to see the pure white of Arson¡¯s longbow draped across his back.


    ¡°Embers, that is cool, are you ever going to learn how to do that ArchersStep or whatever Arson called that movement skill?¡±


    ¡°Ha, why would I have to do something like that?¡±


    ¡°It would be nice right now, don¡¯t you think? How are we going to get up there?¡±


    Stream gave Camilla a shy smile and spread his arms wide, dropping his hands to his sides before looking away with a shrug.


    ¡°I know how I¡¯m getting up there, I¡¯m a giant,¡± said Stream underneath his breath.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you even think about it,¡± started Camilla, but it was too late. She tried to lunge toward Stream, but he¡¯d already jumped.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back, Cam. Help Light get down and go get my father!¡±


    Stream was over the wall and bounding after Arson in two powerful leaps.


    ¡°It¡¯s date night, you owe me, you brat!¡±


    Stream couldn¡¯t help but smirk. He had to push the thoughts of their date aside as he chased down his friend. Arson was closing in on an opened window that Stream hadn¡¯t noticed before entering the grounds.


    For a moment Stream wondered if he could either break the barricade made from planted TitanSteel trees in front of the massive front doors, or burn them down with the new weapon Arson had made for him, giving up on the idea once he watched Arson disappear inside.


    He was up the few dozen long steps that led to the base of the trees in a handful of breaths and quickly began his climb. It wasn¡¯t until Stream was half way up the trees and a third of the way toward his target that Stream was forced to acknowledge the feat of dexterity and strength that Arson must have used and be capable of to have climbed up the library so quickly.


    ¡°That fool is a bloody monster in a Cultivator¡¯s vessel¡­¡±


    As if the soul of reality itself wanted to agree with Stream, a roar was heard emanating from the interior of the library. The timeliness of the sound made Stream pause. Though he felt it was a ridiculous notion that his thought alone could trigger the event to occur, he still stayed frozen, waiting in silence for something, anything, to happen.


    It was as he sighed in relief that he felt the tremble begin. A soft vibration that shook the entire City of Palaces and the jungles beyond its limits. Stream cursed as everything started to shake violently, making his upward climb shift from exhausting and subtly difficult, to incredibly dangerous.


    ¡°Son of a bloody demon¡­ Arson!¡±


    ¡­


    Across the trial planes held within the dimension created for all things forgotten, a group of entities began to rise from their slumbers.


    Known as the Primes to those who descended from them, an awakening unlike any other since their imprisonment touched the minds of those connected to the original Reaper of all. A Cultivator unlike any before or after. The first immortal, also known as the King of the Void Sun.


    Their sleep was said to be due to their lost connection to the most powerful entity to ever live and with that loss, came a new age. An age where the primordials could sleep unbothered by the demands of both the living and the dead.


    However, those same Primes knew that a new dawn would come. A time where their return would be necessary to restore the balance that came with peace. As endless life for some, could only be sustained with the culling of keepers of wasted power and potential.


    At first, came the awakening of the Seven Bodied Monarch. Their knowledge alone was enough to create realms, destroy entire universes of life, and even control the system that regulates Uni-Vare. The group sitting within their palace, and home said to be filled with all forgotten knowledge, all opened their eyes at once, and gasped.


    Avatars of races even older than Elders and Ancients, all stood slowly, taking in their environment for the first instance since the dawn of time itself.


    The group looked at one another, making sure that all of the members of the hive soul were there and returned from the DreamScape itself.


    ¡°The soul of Father is being reborn,¡± said the first Elf known as Maximo. His body rejuvenated itself from a state of skeletal proportions and an illustrious robe draped itself across his shoulders from thin air as his wings spread wide, a plume of gold and white feathers filled their frame.


    ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Maximo turned to see his brother Vigor rise to his feet. The giant orc¡¯s own muscular form returning layer by layer as his muscles grew and grew, until his pure white skin reformed and again became fitted with black and gold armor. The material made from a metal only known by his son, the god of tinkering known as Metal.


    ¡°Where are we? This is not Endless,¡± asked a musical voice, and Maximo turned to see his sister, Union.


    Her body formed yet still seemed ethereal. Her ghostly form as translucent and hard to capture with even an immortal eye, moved like mist unless she was speaking; which would cause the person beholding her to see the most beautiful figure their mind could imagine.


    ¡°It seems we are in a prison made for father, I can feel his armor nearby,¡± explained another. Maximo turned again to see his brother, Emperor. The horned demon stood and darkness wrapped itself around the monarch like an all black business suit, tailored to perfection. The demon¡¯s gaze distant, his red eyes flaring with golden light momentarily as he peered through the walls of the palace they resided within.


    ¡°Should we not be greeted by one of the Icarian, only one of their blood should be able to bring forth a candidate for Father¡¯s replacement¡­¡± The familiar tone of Maximo¡¯s powerfully invigorated sister, Ambrosia spoke, her voice rippling through the room made flowers grow and the once prevalent garden around them all bloom. The mother of Eve and all mortal life, such as humans and the Demi gods known as Cultivators, couldn¡¯t help but be concerned, as what she stated was true, and gave even the fearless Maximo pause.


    Maximo didn¡¯t enjoy seeing his sister this way. Her halo¡¯s normally unrivaled light dimmed, only lighting the area around herself, making her pure white toga look immaculate even as she dusted herself off, frowning at the sight of her dusty attire.


    ¡°Something is wrong with the realms, I can feel the distortions of balance from here, Endless and Heaven are no longer one, and from what I can tell the Icarians are all but extinct.¡± All of the siblings looked over to see Aquarium float to her feet,. The Elemental queen folding her feet underneath herself to sit on a storm cloud that formed beneath her from thin air. Her form only distinguishable from the darkness around them all as the sight of galaxies and universes spun through the limits of her pure black body. The tone of her skin only equivalent to that of the night sky itself.


    ¡°Surely you jest, sister,¡± said Maximo, but what was spoken next confirmed it all for the siblings.


    ¡°She does not lie, brother, things are worse than we could have ever predicted. The laws of creation and destruction have been broken, the system of power has been rewritten, and the gods have begun to use our children, and even their own as nothing more than tools, or maybe even worse, as nothing more than batteries or simple food for their pets¡­¡±


    Mimic lifted his head from a book, and turned to look toward Maximo. The Fey''s entire form rippled and changed constantly. At any instant the king could seem to be related to any of the siblings there, almost as if he was all perceivable races that could be or ever would be.


    The siblings all looked at one another at Mimic¡¯s words, knowing that though he was the creator of the mortal lie, he himself could tell no lie. Once truth was held by the sin eater, the primordial could not stray from its boundaries.


    Maximo nearly cursed, but an odd sound was heard. The entire group lifted their gazes to the far side of the throne room to see a youngling wearing a crown on his head reading a rather large tome that floated in front of him as he ate one of the apples grown in Ambrosia¡¯s gardens.


    ¡°Hey Arson, I know that your closed eye dominion isn¡¯t working currently, but¡­¡±


    The woman¡¯s voice came from the youngling¡¯s wrist and he looked up to see the children of Reaper standing there. His eyes widened momentarily, before his brow furrowed, and he shrugged, waving at the group before he walked away. Maximo looked around at his siblings to see a plethora of various levels of confusion returned in his direction, then back to where the boy had just been.


    ¡°Was that our father¡¯s journal in his hand,¡± asked Maximo.


    ¡°Yes,¡± responded Mimic.


    ¡°Are you telling me that we were woken by that weak Cultivator we just saw,?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± repeated Mimic.


    ¡°Why does he smell like that of an Icarian?¡±


    ¡°Because he is one,¡± said Aquarium.


    ¡°But¡­,¡± started Maximo, but nothing else came. The inventor of science and engineering as concepts struck stupid by the sight of a mixed blooded child whose very genes should be an impossibility. Maximo looked between his siblings, the entire group stunned to silence by the weight of their own thoughts.


    ¡°What?¡±

 Chapter 14: Changes

    The next few days after Arson¡¯s recovery were incredibly difficult. One, because Arson had bitten off more than he could chew with his business. As well as the second reason, Jade.


    His mother was ruthless. She didn¡¯t let him idle for a moment longer than it took to eat a meal or wash his body. She¡¯d also begun to personally train him in different forms of martial combat, which Arson had to admit to himself that he loved, regardless of the difficulty.


    He found himself in a state of meditation that he¡¯d never experienced before, as Jade paced a small circle around him.


    She¡¯d forced him into some sort of stance with his legs spread wide, with his rear in a non-existent seat that left him in an awkward crouch, and his palms straight out in front of him.


    To make things worse, she balanced weighted mana cores on his head, shoulders, knees, the center of each of his extended arms, and in each of his hands.


    Yes, every second felt like a torturous slow burn he¡¯d never be able to escape, but it somehow curbed the sting of his poisons¡¯ pain drastically. So much in fact that he didn¡¯t want the exercise to end. Then a day passed and Arson began to wonder if it would end.


    ¡°You have done well, but I can tell your mind is adrift, what¡¯s the problem,¡± said Jade. Arson opened his eyes and gave a struggled look, when he almost moved his head and dropped the cores spread across his body.


    In the next instance the cores levitated enough to allow for Arson to move and he sighed with relief as he crumpled to the ground.


    ¡°Mr Kim¡­ I guess he was only helping us when he believed that Jasmine would one day become his own scion, now that she¡¯s taken a few contracts in a more solidified and professional way, I believe that has left the man either threatened, which I doubt, or so incredibly annoyed, that he¡¯s trying to shut us down entirely. If it weren¡¯t for Rob, Khalif, and my mana core hunts for you, I¡¯d be broke already.¡± Jade nodded and smiled as she stretched her arms out wide.


    ¡°When anything is possible, the realm opens up to those who see no boundaries or hurdles, no excuse worth empowering, no problem as such, only the readiness to overcome, everything guides them forward. It seems like to me, you have all the pieces you need to reach a new peak, my son, just open your eyes.¡±


    Arson thought for a moment and tried to change his perspective. Jade often gave him complete philosophical answers at every opportunity. She wanted him to think, and he wanted to learn how to remain open.


    Arson hadn¡¯t been able to use his ability to seemingly slow time since his fall, and didn¡¯t know why. Jade felt it to be a block in his perception of what he feels is possible and safe in his mind.


    ¡°You used a new ability in a life or death situation, and even though it may have been grand, powerful even, it let you down, you may have created a mental blockade against an ability you feel has failed you,¡± is what Jade had told him. He didn¡¯t know why his subconscious would do that, could do that, or should ever do that again. It made him feel as if he¡¯d lost a piece of himself.


    Jade told him that he must realign his mind, and he¡¯d been trying to ever since. He¡¯d reached a state of openness as he fell, and wanted to be able to access the state as he pleased, but for now he was forced to put it in the background


    He needed to fix his businesses, as the efforts had become disjointed, and he knew he¡¯d only succeed if all of his people were on a unified front.


    ¡°I need to have a meeting of the minds, can I invite the whole group over for dinner?¡±


    Later that same day, Arson found himself at the opposing end of a very large table from Jade. Rob and his seven helpers used the kitchen that Jade taught them in. A punishment Rob still both thanked him for and hoped he wouldn¡¯t one day regret.


    Rob now knew that Jade was an unrivaled talent in the world when it came to food, and learned to perfect his skills quickly underneath her hawk-like gaze. As Jade wouldn¡¯t allow culinary mistakes to flourish within the walls of her kitchen.


    Xani sat to Arson¡¯s right, followed by her two yet to be introduced helpers. Then Jasmine and the twins.


    While to his left sat, Troy, Khalif, two of his ScapeGrace members, and the rest of the seats were for Rob and his seven to fill after they were done with the preparations.


    ¡°So¡­,¡± said Arson to start the meeting when Rob sat down and left the rest to his kitchen staff. He looked around and all wore different expressions as they waited for him to continue.


    ¡°Let me start with this, I appreciate all your efforts while I was asleep and in recovery, none of you did anything excessive without conferring with either Troy or Jade which I do appreciate, but we still have a long way to go, I honestly need a status report from all of you,¡± said Arson. Troy smiled, but everyone else looked apprehensive. Arson didn¡¯t like the grimace on Khalif¡¯s face, and knew there would be a story behind it.


    ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll go first,¡± started Troy when no one else spoke up.


    ¡°I won my last two fights, so it was easy to spread the word about our services as we spoke about, I¡¯m still working on getting you the paperwork to become a sponsor for the tournament coming up, but we will still need a name,¡± said Troy. Arson smiled back at her and nodded before she looked at Khalif and nudged him to speak. Khalif cleared his thought and began slowly.


    ¡°Me and Rob,, keep getting robbed¡­¡± Arson¡¯s brow furrowed and he looked between the two young men, with the assumption that more would come, but they stayed silent.


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    ¡°Robbed by who,¡± Arson finally asked after a brief silence.


    ¡°Other gangs that don¡¯t like how Khalif and his crew work for a Keeper¡¯s kid, and literally joined up into some sort of super gang union, and rob all of the runners we send out¡­,¡± said Rob. Jade chuckled and Arson couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    ¡°What? It¡¯s cute,¡± said Jade. She shrugged and waved for Khalif to continue when Arson looked at her.


    ¡°Your little advertisement scheme works, I hate it, but it does, I still don¡¯t see why you¡¯re just giving away free food, but we have more repeat orders than first time buyers by a large margin, so one free meal up front is small compared to the near five or six orders a day some people put in,¡± said Rob.


    ¡°Yeah, I have to agree, we are moving around with so many credits at a time that it makes it worth while for these guys to come at our two to three person groups with upwards of ten. Not many orphans are going to die over keeping someone else¡¯s credits no matter how well you pay them,¡± said Khalif. Arson noted that Xani and Jade nodded at Khalif¡¯s words and he took extra time to digest that portion of what he was being told.


    He then looked to the twins and Jasmine. The twins looked at him with expectations in their eyes, while Jasmine looked truly excited for the first time in his direction.


    ¡°Do you know what I say when I walk in to a new clients office for the first time,¡± asked Jasmine. Arson looked around at the room for an answer before he guessed, as no-one seemed to have the answer but Jasmine.


    ¡°Umm, Hello, I¡¯m Jasmine and I have a beautiful service I¡¯d like to offer you?¡± Jasmine immediately shook her head slowly with a large smile that seem to grow as the moment went on.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have to say a thing, most times I¡¯m escorted to some management office, I place down a contract, they aren¡¯t high enough in the hierarchy to handle deals that large, then I am moved up the chain anywhere from two to four maybe even seven more times, and then it''s signed.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°I work for a mini Carter Omni in the making from what I can tell¡­ and I think most people are just afraid to make your mom mad which is a plus, and also you have three of the fastest growing businesses in Maelstrom as well in your control for the most part,¡±


    ¡°Three businesses,¡± said Arson quickly to push the conversation forward. He¡¯d seen Jade wince at Jasmine¡¯s comment about Carter Omni, and didn¡¯t want to press the situation.


    ¡°Yes, your idea worked, I¡¯ve been able to mimic a restoration field in a handful of desks now, thousands of pounds of trash go into the giant container at a time at the center of the warehouse, and we literally just wait for items to pop up in the inventory section of the modules at each station, pluck them and sort the items one by one, something I plan on streamlining over time,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°So we are building an inventory for the store I planned on opening, but I don¡¯t see how that counts as a third business quite yet?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s because I¡¯ve sold out of most of the clothing that we have recovered so far, I apologize but I did take the liberty of naming your clothing brand, Fresh Cartel, or FC for short. It¡¯s made you a little over 31 million credits so far, and that¡¯s because we are limited by the amount of available work stations, Xani is working on that but I¡¯m not going to push her as she has stated you want her focused on the restoration systems and understanding them more,¡± said Jasmine to Arson¡¯s utter shock. He admitted to himself that he didn¡¯t like that she¡¯d taken liberties he wasn¡¯t aware of, but didn¡¯t regret his earlier compliment to his group. Jasmine did a lot, but it resulted in success, and that he should be proud of.


    ¡°I¡¯ve only mimicked a basic restoration system for now, which is why not only don¡¯t we have control over how many desks we can turn into stations, but any more than the two more I have planned for now would be a waste. Regardless the rarest items are still being restored and housed,¡± said Xani. Arson couldn¡¯t help but smile, especially as everyone began to send him the invoices for all of the money he made while he slept and later trained. He had to forcibly keep his mouth closed as he glanced at the 71 million credits he now owned.


    ¡°Well, I have a few questions and suggestions,¡± said Arson. Everyone at the table took a break from the meal and looked his way. The entire group had sat now and Arson felt odd with so many eyes on him at once.


    ¡°Xani, I¡¯d like for you to take a group and find as many of the old tandem hover bike frames at the edge of the junkyard as you can, they aren¡¯t popular anymore, but might benefit us, Khalif, you should send some people with her, but not too many, I¡¯m going to see if we can make our people a little bit more illusive before I see it fit to counter strike this gang, said Arson. Xani and Khalif both gave an affirmative, and Arson moved on.


    ¡°Jasmine, I¡¯ve considered it, and if the twins can survive in a green zone as the members of ScapeGrace have, then sure I will allow them to back me up in certain areas within the dump at night. I noticed you mentioned nothing about Mr. Kim, is he still an issue?¡±


    ¡°Sparks yes, but I don¡¯t really care, the work speaks for itself, and so does the number of buyers of the restored product we have. A lot of rich cultivators are going wild over styles they haven¡¯t seen in hundreds of cycles,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°So have we solidified ourselves as a quality laundry service, or simply run from a powerful opponent for now,¡± asked Arson, truly in a need for the level of backlash he may encounter from the situation.


    ¡°Both, we don¡¯t want to bother Mr. Kim, so we are taking absolutely every small client he turns down, and making a killing while doing it,¡± said Jasmine. Nothing seemed to be able to bother the girl, and Arson honestly could say he liked her new energy.


    ¡°Rob, I suggest you start doing research on mobile kitchens, I think the extra Bookish that Xani wanted to bring in can work on crafting both something to defend your chefs, and their guards, while it allows for you to provide top shelf food practically anywhere,¡± said Arson as he gave his mother 25 million credits electronically.


    His food budget was large but Rob and his people hadn¡¯t put as much of a dent into the budget as he thought originally. Apparently when you cook beyond a grand master level, your time in a kitchen becomes rather expensive. So his food cost was reasonable, but the cost of his mother¡¯s free time was not.


    Arson didn¡¯t care though as he was in order to gain a lot more as Rob gained further skill, which he did pass along to his sous-chef Brianna, and the others on his crew.


    Arson had plans to figure out how to make a space to grow his ingredients, and knew that some company or another had to have actually implemented into their own processes, the same ideas he currently only played with in his mind.


    He needed to take things slow, but first he had a rival gang to try and work things out with, or Arson may have to commit his first raid. Arson looked up with a smile at the thought of the legalized vigilante law, and tried not to laugh when Khalif spoke up.


    ¡°Hey, is anyone else bothered by the look he gets on his face sometimes, the last time he smiled like that I caught all the sparks.¡±


    Arson spent the rest of the day in the dump. He needed time to himself to think. His plans were large and needed room to grow. Room that Xani and the Bookish¡¯s efforts would soon provide.


    Large mountains of trash had been removed from the area around Jade¡¯s warehouse, and grass had again began to grow in the space. Arson envisioned gardens, perfectly paved paths, and even decorative water fountains around the building and smiled.


    Jade offered any land cleared by Arson and his group to be used for their needs, and even a nearby empty field that Arson immediately had plans for.


    He believed that once he renovated the older warehouse¡¯s architectural design, and had Jasmine decorate the interior with Xani¡¯s help, he would have a truly magnificent storefront for the Black Hole Conglomerate.


    After he managed to settle his thoughts, Arson rose to his feet and joined the others as they gathered in front of the warehouse. More than just his businesses needed to improve, and quickly, as Jade had begun to mention more and more, that Arson would not only be in school soon after summer ended, and with that came the tournament of scions.


    Arson had fear about competing with the other HonorBorn families of Maelstrom. He didn¡¯t want to let his mother down, or his friends. So rather than being crushed by the pressure, he decided to take action.


    Stay idle, even within the sun¡¯s glory for too long, and the shade of those mightier than yourself shall consume you.


    Arson looked around and received nods from his friends before he smiled and spoke. He may not want to endanger those that accompanied him, and may be about to try and scare his friends from ever wanting to enter the depths of the dump again, but¡­ he still didn¡¯t think that discouraging them outright would work either. So he shot for uplifting, yet still semi terrifying, the familiar phrase he chose enough to ease tension, yet raise the internal alarm bells of those gathered.


    ¡°Procrastination?!¡± The quote made the orphans smile as they knew exactly how to respond, yet the phrase had been used only when their orphan mother expected her children to give whatever challenge she handed them their all, so they also knew the next steps would not be easy. Regardless their response was filled with energy and excitement.


    ¡°Procrasti what, not in this nation!¡±

 Chapter 15: Blood of my Blood

    When Arson stepped into the first kingdom of magic once more, he felt an odd excitement. Troy was once again with him, but so were many others.


    Khalif, and the twins also were there, alongside a few others Arson still couldn¡¯t remember the names of.


    He wanted to scare as many of them away from the area as possible, but so far it hadn¡¯t worked. He was already surprised by the group of seven that entered the dump every night.


    The group often changed, as most needed more sleep than Arson and Troy, which they both assumed was because of their affinities toward illumination. They were always charged up and ready to go. With the exception being Troy after her fights, she always slept at least a handful of hours after each competition.


    Arson had almost gone through another round of poison without her, but when he¡¯d shared his plan her glare told him not to. Both she and Jade filled him with varied levels of fear, but fear none the less.


    ¡°Nature is what it is,¡± read Arson aloud, while he chose his next poison. He wasn¡¯t even able to move an inch before the spearlike branch tore through his belly button. The branch sprouted from the ground in front of him like a spear and attempted to rip straight through his body.


    Instead the point was stopped by his newly-metallic spine, and seeds were released into his blood stream. The effect that would normally take hours took moments, as normally the tip of the branch, commonly known to be the most poisonous part, exited the body.


    Arson did his best not to black out, as his remaining red blood cells were eaten by his overabundant white cells, while they were further infused with mana.


    This pain for Arson was foreign. He¡¯d been beaten, cut, burned and more, but this pain was still different.


    To Arson, it felt as if his entire body was a scab and if it were possible, he¡¯d try to rip his own skin off to see if the itchy sensation would stop. The sensation ran bone deep and made him sweat as he tried to focus. He forced himself to enter his cerebral realm, and found that things had changed once again.


    He¡¯d apparently realigned his mind and soul, and now the night sky itself could be seen starlit in the halo above all else.


    Arson lost himself in the sight of a sunlit sky, that seemed to wrap itself around a portal to another place entirely within his mind.


    Then his focus was pulled toward the tree that now spat golden white spores in every direction. Some floated toward the black hole and roots of the tree. Some toward the storm above the tree, and even throughout the air of the space.


    ¡°Sparks! I wish this stuff had a ¡°for simpletons¡± guide,¡± said Arson mentally, only for the words to ring through the space, and make him giggle with joy as the vibration of his voice and laughter tickled him. Before Arson could correlate the sensation of what he felt, he was pulled from his mind as the branch was pulled from his body.


    The branch was pulled back into the earth with a squelch, and Arson¡¯s now glimmering golden white blood, splattered from his stomach and all over the ground.


    Everyone behind him gasped in audible awe as his belly button closed and left peerless skin as if he¡¯d never had one, and grass grew higher in the area at his feet.


    ¡°Yo,¡± said Khalif. Everyone in the area looked at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me that you have done this how many times now? Three? No wait four now, right? How hard is it to take you down really, kid?¡± Arson shrugged and exited,. He¡¯d nearly attempted another poison, but didn¡¯t know how that would affect him after undergoing such an obviously large change to his body.


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    He hadn¡¯t felt the last poison, but knew it had affected him the most of all he¡¯d taken in so far. His blood pulsed with power and he wanted to move.


    ¡°You guys want to find out?¡±


    Arson had only been playing around when he¡¯d asked his friends if they¡¯d wanted to test out how hard it was to bring him down. Now, he stood surrounded by pretty much every one he liked or at least considered a decent person. All of whom were ready to try and beat the sparks out of his entire being.


    To be honest, he was only truly worried about Troy¡­, before the fight began. Then Jade arrived and it seemed to make his friends, hungry for blood.


    Arson then realized, the battle had already began. His adrenaline pumped so high that everything around him had slowed incredibly. Whatever skill he used caused his mana to visibly drain in the overlay in the corner of his vision.


    Arson howled upward, and a pulse of energy bloomed from his chest. He watched the bloom ripple outward and knock everyone off their feet. He giggled to himself, and felt a beat thrum to life in his head.


    He had to force his mind to increase his perception of time. It somehow got in the way of his ability to move correctly, and he needed to take advantage of his current situation without hinderance.


    He dashed toward Troy and grabbed her by the ankles before she had time to react and spun.


    ¡°By the sparks, Arson, what the-¡± Troy yelled as she was flung bodily into Khalif. He had no opportunity to get on his feet either, and Arson knew who he should be worried about for the most part.


    The twins were a wild card, and so were the couple brought by Khalif, but Arson didn¡¯t give anyone time to think.


    He fired conductive water orbs toward everyone, or at least in their paths. The explosions caught most off guard, but Arson smiled as he could tell he had pissed Troy off.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare run, sparking little runt!¡± grumbled Troy. She bobbed and weaved through the explosions, unlike the others around.


    Khalif barely stayed on his feet, the boy twin was on his rear and Arson lost the girl twin.


    The fact he didn¡¯t know where the girl nor Khalif¡¯s additions were bothered him.


    Then Arson felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and he struck out behind himself with a sweep.


    The kick knocked the girl twin off her feet, and Arson fired at the ground.


    An explosion sent the girl and Khalif¡¯s group all in different directions. The gang members had also found their way behind him.


    Then he was kicked into the air so hard he flew end over end for a handful of seconds and crash landed into a trash heap.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to do better than that, Arson!¡± Arson knew Troy was already on the move and decided that he wanted to win, even if he hurt himself to do so.


    He emerged from the trash heap and held an orb the size of an exercise ball. The violent water struggled to keep its form, and Arson threw it anyway.


    He¡¯d lobbed the energy up high, and ran in the same direction. Directly toward the entire group.


    The group once again scattered, as Arson charged two more orbs.


    None got far enough away that what Arson had planned, wouldn¡¯t affect them, but he hadn¡¯t known the vast difference between his power before, and his current abilities.


    He positioned himself under the giant orb of energy, and smashed the two additional orbs into the larger one.


    When his hands met, another halo of energy was released. The golden white light moved slow in Arson¡¯s vision, but he knew that was because he had his perception of time slowed incredibly to see what his attack would do.


    Then he felt that something was wrong, the energy was a little different than it had been with less water. This water seemed much more, chaotic, like the waves of a storm.


    He tried to draw back in the chaotic burst of mana, and somehow managed to make things worse. A vortex formed between him and the halo of energy with him at the center.


    As he roared and tried to pull, the energy around him did the same. Almost as if his mana mimicked his own intentions. Luckily for Arson and his friends, his mother was there.


    The sound of a snapped finger echoed out and the area, and Jade strode into the middle of their battle with a huge smile on her face. Arson¡¯s halo of energy froze in place and stopped a fingernail¡¯s length away from Troy¡¯s serious gaze.


    Arson stood in the middle of the still very active vortex of mana, hunched over, as he gasped with every breath. It took a while but his body began to drink in what was around him, every drop of available mana absorbed by his pores in a handful of breaths.


    ¡°It seems I will have to increase the training of your friends or you may kill them, child,¡± said Jade with a hearty laugh. The others looked at each other and grimaced.


    ¡°Reminds me of my own childhood. Once upon a time all my friends turned on me because they believed I was stealing their power,¡± stated Jade plainly as she rolled her eyes.


    ¡°If only they knew what they¡¯d had a chance at,¡± finished Jade as she lowered herself to meet Arson¡¯s dread-filled eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done nothing wrong. Just be careful when playing with friends, buddy. You are no longer what you once were. You are mana blooded now, remember that.¡± Jade pressed a finger to his heart, stomach and then the center of his head before she hugged him, kissed him on the forehead and laughed.


    ¡°Come, children, it is time to train.¡±

 Chapter 16: Thoroughbred

    Arson loved to be trained by Jade, and so did Troy, but the others¡­ did not.


    Jade had no understanding of the normalcy that they¡¯d become accustomed to with a life in society. It was savage and cutthroat, but Jade came from a place with no perception of fair, or right or wrong, only power, corruption and purity.


    So when the very young Arson heard, run with boulders, he saw no reason not to. The others, saw unreal expectations.


    ¡°Are you expecting me to keep this up all sparking day, kid, we may have to renegotiate my pay,¡± roared Khalif. The silver haired young man carried a boulder twice the size of Arson¡¯s own, and had decided to comment on it often. Arson let it go as he wasn¡¯t being outright laughed at.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, talk to Cultivator¡¯s resources over there,¡± said Arson with a gun and a jutted chin in Jade¡¯s direction. They ran, and the woman seemed to be more determined than usual to tire the group out completely.


    Arson wouldn¡¯t stop until his body gave out and the others seemed to have something to prove to Jade, which was merely Arson¡¯s assumption.


    Arson and Khalif were once again lapped by Troy who ran with a boulder two times bigger than Khalif¡¯s own. Khalif rolled his eyes, and Arson gave more of an effort to move faster through the track.


    Night would soon arrive, and that didn¡¯t necessarily mean their training would be complete. Arson feared what it would be like to maneuver through the area with the boulder on his back, and shuttered at the potential of not being able to defend himself.


    ¡°Then a friendly and familiar voice rang through the air and Arson smiled at the sweet fragrance of fruit that bloomed in the air alongside it.


    ¡°Hello young ones, it seems I have caught you all hard at work,¡± said Almarine. She stood near Jade and exhaled a blue cloud of fog from her lips.


    Arson¡¯s first gift had been a device made to break down mana particles into a smoke that gave the brain the same effects of nicotine or marijuana, but fed the brain and lungs, rather than damaged the organs.


    The gift had been perfect for the woman as it needed to be powered by water mana. As it was the only mana type that could create the filter within the center of the hoop shaped smoking device. Others would have to have a water mana Cultivator refill the device when it ran dry, but Almarine wouldn¡¯t mind. She was a water mana Cultivator of the highest known prestige within Maelstrom.


    His second gift was a framed portrait of Arson and Troy the night she¡¯d won her first fight. Arson had his friend strike a victorious pose, and acted as if he was being choked in her one handed grip for the picture. Troy also signed it in hopes that her signature would one day hold value.


    ¡°Hello to you as well,¡± said Jade. Arson noticed his mother didn¡¯t look away from them, which told him keep to his task and there¡¯d be no issues.


    ¡°Hello Ms. Mari,¡± yelled the orphans and Arson.


    ¡°I assume that you all aren¡¯t going to come home for dinner. If so, I wondered if I may dine with you all,¡± asked Almarine. Arson was surprised that Almarine would ever ask to dine with them, she was a Keeper. Keepers dined on some of the finest cuisine Maelstrom could offer, and his orphan mother was no exception to the luxury.


    ¡°Dine with us? I am afraid that we may not be able to accommodate, Ma¡¯am,¡± said Rob. He worked on his knife skills behind Jade, and wasn¡¯t given any slack either. He tried to take things easy with her back turned and learned why not to with something Jade called, lightning reinforcement.


    ¡°If it is credits I can-¡± started Almarine.


    ¡°No ma¡¯am, we have been hired as the main catering service for the Mana Well tonight, we have to cook for nearly 15 thousand attendees, people reserved plates almost a season ago for this event, the only person who could make you a plate would be Jade and¡­,¡± said Rob with a glance toward Jade who shook her head.


    ¡°Sorry Ms. Mari, she is going to be helping me supervise the crew. We haven¡¯t done something this large, ever and I don¡¯t want to be the one to make Arson look bad,¡± said Rob, before he went back to his cuts. He¡¯d formed a beautiful swan in fewer than a dozen chops at a large onion, and even Almarine marveled at the creation.


    Arson frowned at what he¡¯d heard Rob say, but even more by what came next. Troy blew by Arson and Khalif again, and he and Khalif did the same to the twins then the members of ScapeGrace, and the cycle continued while the Keepers spoke.


    ¡°Have they noticed it yet?¡± asked Almarine.


    ¡°No,¡± said Jade. The flat response told Arson that Jade truly was focused on the task at hand and refused to be distracted by anything beyond a simple conversation. Jade was an introvert, yes, but never rude, only driven and unintentionally overwhelming in presence.


    ¡°They will with time, they may even realize it soon,¡± said Jade. She then called for all of them to stop and pay their respect to Almarine.


    The twins and the members of ScapeGrace went first, then Troy. She dropped her boulder and the thud sounded like a bookshelves worth of books had been dropped on a table.


    Troy hugged Ms. Mari, and moved out of the way for Khalif. Khalif dropped his boulder and a slightly less impressive thud was emanated from his own rock, and he grunted before he straightened.


    He looked back at Arson¡¯s own boulder and laughed before he walked up to Almarine and hugged her. He almost spoke before Arson dropped his boulder.


    The boom cracked the ground where the boulder landed and everyone except Jade and Almarine almost fell over.


    Almarine laughed and it was then that everyone as well as Arson looked at the rocks. All of them seemed pretty ordinary. The only differences were the sizes, and the fact that Arson¡¯s rock was a deep red color that he¡¯d only just noticed emitted light.


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    Troy walked over to the rock and tried to nudge the red stone, only for it not to move at all. With how small the material was, they¡¯d all assumed it to be lighter than their own boulders, but instead Arson¡¯s own was by far the most dense.


    ¡°Arson¡¯s stone will most likely always be the heaviest, unless you all use a Sovereign mana stone as well, it draws in ambient mana in the air and from whatever it touches to grow in both weight and size, as large as that one is, it is most likely around two maybe three tons already,¡± explained Almarine. Khalif looked at Arson a moment before he shook his head and sighed.


    ¡°How much would it cost for me and the members of ScapeGrace that I bring along to train using those stones. Are there even any more available for use,¡± asked Khalif to Jade. She waved a hand toward Arson before she spoke.


    ¡°Ask your friend and associate, it is only by his grace that you train here and under my tutelage.¡±


    ¡°We can talk later, Khalif. For now we should probably get back to it, but I am glad to see that you like your present Ms. Mari,¡± said Arson. He bowed toward his orphan mother, before he took a knee and dipped his head in Jade¡¯s direction. He was being trained in many categories of nobility by Jade for social appearances, but many of the requirements had already molded changes into Arson¡¯s characteristics.


    Arson struggled momentarily to once more lift the red boulder, then began to run once more. This time Arson moved with a reignited vigor that he couldn¡¯t help but wonder about. Did it come from the energy of those around him and how they seemed to look at him differently now, or the pride he felt at his recent accomplishments when the two Keepers spoke about him? He was unsure.


    ¡°Are you sure there is nothing I can do to join you all this evening,¡± asked Almarine. Jade rolled her eyes and looked at Rob who smiled back at her.


    ¡°We may be able to work something out if you can manage to get a viewing box for yourself, I will send Rob and some of the new kitchen trainees to serve and cook for you personally, otherwise I have to house a few noble families since Arson is a Scion now. Honestly forgot how much was involved with having disciples, but henceforth I will make sure you always have a seat at my table,¡± said Jade.


    ¡°Thank you, you honor me, venerable one,¡± said Almarine. Jade only nodded, and still managed to keep her eyes on the group as they ran once again.


    ¡°He is the best thing for them all it seems,¡± said Almarine.


    ¡°He is where he should have been all along,¡± replied Jade immediately. Arson had no possible clue what Jade could mean by her statement, but guessed it was because of their assumed shared bloodline. Still his orphan mother¡¯s response left him even more confused.


    ¡°Well I¡¯m sure you are happy to have him back in your life, as my quest to keep him from you was the only truly difficult thing I have ever faced in my life,¡± said Almarine. Arson wondered if the women didn¡¯t care that they could be overheard, but then realized he was more than a football fields length away.


    ¡°This farce created by the system will be uprooted at its core when my son rises through the ranks of the Scions, we both know what he is,¡± said Jade, in the same moment she made direct eye contact with Arson across the distance.


    ¡°You believe he is¡ª¡° started Almarine. Jade raised a hand and stopped the woman.


    ¡°The children have guest, and it seems Sovereign can hear us,¡± said Jade as she snapped her fingers loud enough for them all too hear. Arson didn¡¯t know why he felt shivers at the use of his newly given first name, but he was definitely affected.


    He¡¯d begun to have all those that knew him as Arson, continue to call him his original name in private, but in public use his proper name.


    ¡°What a sight, what a sight!¡± A girl on a literal cloud floated into the open area Jade had set up, and Arson couldn¡¯t help but be annoyed by the intruder. It made him wish it was pitch black outside, as most people would stay far away after a single sight of the dump after sundown.


    He didn¡¯t know when he started to feel that way about the dump, he just did. Where others saw trash, he saw literal treasure. All it needed was attention, and this land would bring a new option to the city to help others grow and be rewarded as Almarine had, with the orphanage. Only Arson would do it with luxuries forgotten, but not lost.


    ¡°If you would believe it, we have come across a sighting of exceptional rarity, it¡¯s not only two Keepers in the same place willingly, it is a new Scion and a few unnamed individuals, alongside our target, Troy the Queen of Light!¡± Arson looked around after a crowd of people could suddenly be heard in an uproar of cheers.


    It was then that he noticed the camera that flew around the girl¡¯s body and took pictures. The item marked her position as one of the many idols in competition for independent celebrity in the city. She wouldn¡¯t be able to afford a camera if she didn¡¯t have a large following, but large still didn¡¯t mean much with how truly massive the population of the realm was. Known, in one city, could be completely foreign in any neighboring cities.


    ¡°Today you know we are here to confirm the rumor of Maelstroms newest speed tester, she is known to be a savage competitor and the second most likely to win tonight¡¯s cage match at the Mana Well, there¡¯s a passport in my stream bio for tickets, promo code, Lane Coin!¡± The girl Arson assumed to be Lane zoned in on Troy and begun to orbit her as she asked Troy questions.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind doing a speed test for us, would you? It would be for a license, I am a certified skill tester, and the fans would love a demonstration, especially with how strong your opponents will be. Some are saying that you shouldn¡¯t be that high on the odds to win you know,¡± said Lane as she nodded to the camera as if to confirm her own words were true with the action. Arson chuckled and the air distorted slightly around him. He was as shocked as everyone else was, but his new training kept his features as stoic as possible for the cycles old Arson.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny Mr. Sovereign?¡± said Lane with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°The fact that you think I¡¯m going to let Troy make the mistake of showing you the results of her training from her last fight to now,¡± said Arson before he looked at Troy.


    ¡°The license only requires that you show your speed in a 100 meter dash, I recommend that you make this chick get an exclusive from one of the suckers you¡¯re going to pummel tonight. What¡¯s the guy¡¯s name again?¡± said Arson.


    ¡°The Demon,¡± said Troy. Arson smiled as she closed her hands into fist at the mention of the name alone. She¡¯d been fired up for this fight in a way that even surprised Arson, who¡¯d seen how much better of a fighter she was now that Jade had gotten her hands on her.


    ¡°Yeah, go get the Demon to show off for your fans. We need to get back to training as soon as possible and if Troy isn¡¯t ready for a license, nothing you say will change that,¡± said Arson. Troy smiled and nodded before she looked at Lane.


    ¡°He¡¯s the boss, and even if he wasn¡¯t I wouldn¡¯t be dumb enough to display my new speed to a camera,¡± said Troy. Lane shrugged to the camera, said her goodbyes to her fans before she sighed and turned off the floating device.


    ¡°You guys are even more rigid than the nobles, even that kid Lucas showed me a new lightning spell he¡¯s been working on, you already beat him and even he wasn¡¯t afraid to show me a new move or two, you sure I can¡¯t talk you into at least a few frames of action?¡±


    ¡°How about this, you become the main broadcaster for our group,¡± said Troy on a whim. One that Arson couldn¡¯t help but completely support. Even if he didn¡¯t know the girl in front of him.


    They needed a way to grow their exposure. Rob and his people made more money from repeat customers than new foot traffic. Jasmin could only meet so many clients at a time. While Arson and Xani spent more time brainstorming and testing ideas than anything else in their free time.


    Without someone like Lane, their group would remain modestly sized even if they gained the help of every orphan in the city. Arson knew it deep down, and though he wanted to remain as small as possible within his inner circle, Lane could be a reasonable addition, if she fit in, that is.


    ¡°Follow around a bunch of potential psychos that train in a dump and junkyard, yay, why didn¡¯t you ask me sooner,¡± said Lane with an eye roll.


    ¡°I hate to say it Ms. Coin, but you¡¯d be dumb not to follow the kid over there,¡± said Khalif with a point in Arson¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Oh yeah, the runt hasn¡¯t said much, and even what I¡¯ve heard so far isn¡¯t any different than any of the other young elites,¡± said Lane.


    ¡°Yeah, and how many of those elites are worth more than 100 million credits in less than a season, no hand outs, no obscene favors from family members, just hard work and determination,¡± asked Rob. Lane opened her mouth to speak up but then Khalif cut in.


    ¡°I¡¯ve honestly considered dissolving my own gang and becoming a sector of full time body guards, in whatever this is we are all building,¡± said Khalif. Arson frowned. He didn¡¯t know if Khalif had complimented him or just stated a semi realization as he had it. His facial expression seemed shocked as if he was surprised by what he¡¯d said.


    ¡°Wow, was that hard for you Khalif? You look like someone just told you that they found your long lost parents,¡± said Arson. Khalif raised two fingers at him and he laughed.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what it is like following someone younger than you, nor what it is like to see your hard work pay off, while others try and fail every day,¡± said Troy. Arson knew she came from a good place when he met her eyes and she smiled back at him. She was only being honest and though he felt hurt, it was only because of his fear of loss when it came to the people around him.


    ¡°I will only push forward if you all come along, what¡¯s the point otherwise, I¡¯d end up bored and adopting brats like us anyway if I was forced to do this alone, hey wait can I really do that,¡± Arson asked himself aloud, but still couldn¡¯t help but look at Almarine. He looked back to Lane quickly after he physically shook the thought from his head. He didn¡¯t want to end up as some sort of child worker, and a potentially free work force was something he needed to stay far away from.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what they see in me, but I am what I am, nothing more, nothing less, but I can promise you that following any other group of builders will be boring comparatively,¡± said Arson. Lane looked around at all of them, before she asked a single question.


    ¡°Builders?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, all of us,¡± said Troy with a gesture around herself and then to Arson, who spoke up once more.


    ¡°The Builders of Godhood, it¡¯s our guild, and the primary force behind my company, the BlackHole Conglomerate.¡±

 Chapter 17: Flag on the Play

    The ManaWell was at maximum capacity. Arson looked around from the even more lavish viewing box than those he¡¯d experienced alone previously. Only now he was with Jade and the rest of the now named Builders.


    He couldn¡¯t get the conversation he¡¯d had with Troy moments earlier out of his head, and he even grew nervous instinctually about the fight. An intangible energy seemed to cloud his mind and left him with a sense of impending danger.


    Troy had told him about her own fears about the fight. How many times in her youth she¡¯d been beaten by the same young man she was about to face, and why she¡¯d began to run. Run from everything that made her feel the slightest bit of struggle or annoyance. Eventually she ended up always in flight, from everything, which included matters of even her own health and longevity.


    After Arson¡¯s poisonings however, Troy no longer felt she could run. What she¡¯d seen him do had changed him, as well as her.


    So much in fact that Troy worried that she may be flagged for sandbagging. Unlicensed individuals in the areas of strength, speed, and mana would only be forgiven once in the regard for facing a weaker opponent, and then would be forced to receive a license.


    This insured that opponents were of similar rank and overall skill¡­ or at least it was supposed to. Arson saw the truth being almost the complete opposite over the past few weeks of Troy¡¯s fights


    Maybe the fights are less crooked in the professional fighting divisions?


    He¡¯d originally rolled his eyes at Troy¡¯s worries over being too strong for the intro divisions set up, but with the intensity of Troy¡¯s gaze, he began to wonder how far she would take her planned vengeance. As someone who had been her practice dummy for what she intended that night, Arson prayed she didn¡¯t kill her opponent.


    ¡°You did say that the division was rigged, so what if their arenas are only set up for one power house at a time,¡± mumbled Arson to himself. He cursed at the thought, and decided to trust that his friend had the situation under control.


    ¡°Welcome to the stage, Troy, the Queen of Light, and founding member of the newly formed, Builders of Godhood!¡± The announcer didn¡¯t dare say anything but what had been prepared about Troy after the last time she¡¯d gotten a hand on him, but Arson still smiled at the fear in his voice with each time he announced her.


    ¡°And last but not least is the champion of the outer city, he without name or origin, the undertaker of Maelstrom, The Demon!¡± The crowd erupted and a young man only slightly larger than Arson himself entered the cage and joined the seven others within. Only this time, it was he who walked into the center of the ring, even before the match had a chance to begin.


    ¡°It seems the Demon is out for blood people, let¡¯s see where this goes!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about this one folks,¡± said Lane in a whispered announcer¡¯s voice of her own. She¡¯d taken on a contract with Arson and Troy to begin with, but Arson felt that the girl would change her mind quickly about the inclusion of all the guild members.


    With what he and Xani had planned for the Builders in the next few days, he would be surprised if they didn¡¯t shake the foundation of the city. From what Arson suspected, things like what they had planned had been done before, but not to the same scale as they intended, nor for the group that his guild and businesses intended to service.


    He had to force his mind to focus on the match. The night was about Troy, and Arson wanted to be as supportive as he could be. He¡¯d begun to feel that his own accomplishments had left his friends slightly jealous, which was fine, as long as it didn¡¯t grow into envy is what Jade told him, and Arson agreed.


    ¡°Place your final bets now, folks. There are only a handful of moments until the match will begin.¡± Arson came to his feet and began to pace in the aisle way behind everyone¡¯s seats. Jade gave him a look, but she left him to himself after he shrugged at her unable to escape his restlessness.


    He found it more and more difficult to sit still the stronger he became, and wondered if that would ever change. He didn¡¯t mind always being in motion, but it did seem to bother others in his presence in settings that required more civilized behaviors.


    Before he could once again find himself distracted, the match began and Arson stopped pacing as he took in the fight below. The blonde haired boy named, The Demon, looked around with pure black eyes. Arms crossed he slowly rotated in the cage and stopped when he faced a random individual.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that you made it this far, Troy,¡± said the Demon. He lifted his hand toward the young man in front of himself and the teen shrieked in terror as he was yanked off his feet.


    ¡°I mean¡­ wow. You signed up for this even after what I did to you the last time. I mean it, you¡¯re brave, child¡­¡± The young man¡¯s throat slid directly into the Demon¡¯s grasp, before he was choke slammed.


    Arson hadn¡¯t known the use of telekinesis was even legal in the division Troy fought in, but moved passed it mentally as her and the Demon moved.


    ¡°Sorry, Lucas,¡± said Troy, before she vanished and reappeared nearly on the other side of the cage and took her first rival out of the match with a single punch. The blow was performed so quickly that only a dozen or so people in the audience could even perceive what occurred.


    Troy grabbed the unconscious young man before his body hit the floor and his elemental flames sputtered out. She set him down gently and smiled at the face the Demon made.


    She knew her new speed was absurd comparative to what it had been, but the silence of the crowd confirmed that she was no longer the same Troy they all were used to.


    The Troy that had run from every roadblock. The Troy who needed no one. The same person who now felt completely different, and knew why.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to slap the sparking 1s and 0s out of your genetic code, kid, for myself and the honor of my guild,¡± said Troy with a point toward the Demon. She didn¡¯t take her eyes off of him for a moment. Even as she managed to blur pass two other opponents and knock them out cold; she stared him down.


    The Demon stood his ground and pulled more targets toward himself . Some were slammed overhead by the Demon unnecessarily, their ankles caught in his incredible grip. He simply pointed a palm toward his target, and like magic, he held another limb or person he felt to be just another toy in his hand. A plaything to be tossed around or destroyed.


    While a few were literally either flung toward Troy or directly onto the cage, others felt like mere weapons when their own bodies were used like clubs made of meat and bone.


    The Demon swung a winged girl that tried to swoop toward him, into another challenger by her wing. The crowd winced at the girl¡¯s shock and scream of pain and terror.


    The match changed from a battle of many, into a duel after the Demon¡¯s one sided punishment continued further. Troy tried to keep her smile to herself once she realized that she would truly be given the chance to get revenge on her long tormentor this day, but fell far short of the attempt.


    Her smile ended up so big the crowd even cheered when they saw it displayed across the screens above the cage. She hadn¡¯t stopped moving for a single breath since the match started, and it was then that Arson knew the Demon noted that Troy hadn¡¯t tired, nor did it seem that she would.


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    Let¡¯s hope your natural absorption doesn¡¯t cause any unforeseen problems Troy, otherwise you¡¯ve got this, come on, I know you do¡­, thought Arson to himself.


    ¡°Thought you would have hit me by now,¡± yelled Troy across the ring.


    ¡°You really are faster now,¡± said the Demon, then he reached a hand out toward Troy. In a direct threat. She slowed through the air, arm extended in a superman punch toward her foe, a breath before she came to a complete stop.


    It was like she¡¯d been wrapped up in an invisible grip mid air that held her there, but just as the Demon opened his mouth to speak¡­ she vanished. With a roar and a burst of light, she reappeared as if she¡¯d teleported directly behind the Demon.


    Arson knew she couldn¡¯t teleport yet, but the flashy movements still mimicked teleportation, flawlessly. The head kick she attempted was also blocked by an unseen force, but Troy continued to vanish and appear elsewhere in a rapid blur of movements and attacks.


    When that wasn¡¯t enough, she begun to summon HardLight clones of herself that copied her movements entirely. The flurry of attacks rang with every blow as Troy beat the barrier at the speed of an erratic drum solo.


    The clones were full bodied and dazzled the eye with their constant change of color and illumination. Some made it hard to see with how bright they were, while others were hard to see, with how deep their vibrancy was. Often the clones made it hard to tell where attacks from other clones would come from, which only helped Troy distract her opponent further.


    At first the Demon seemed unaffected, but after a few dozen breaths and even more failed strikes in Troy¡¯s direction, his anger could be seen as it rippled off him in waves of power and force. Then Troy landed the first punch of many.


    The Demon was lifted off the ground momentarily by an uppercut to his mid section. Troy blurred, before she wrapped her arms around his thighs from behind and suplexed the young man onto his neck. Even before he could realize what occurred, two HardLight clones appeared from thin air above them both, and heel dropped the Demon in the face, all before Troy let him go.


    Their bodies had created an arc in the instance before the Demon had eaten two heels and Troy vanished yet again to let him flop onto the arena floor. The crowd boomed with celebration as Troy flickered through the cage, and the Demon slowly tried to rise.


    ¡°By the sparks of the maiden, this is a literal first folks, I don¡¯t believe we at the ManaWell have ever seen the Demon be treated in this manner!¡±


    The crowd exploded in another uproar of cheers and booing. Arson¡¯s eyes took in the match for its entirety. He¡¯d slowed his perception down as much as he could, as the high mana cost wasn¡¯t as bad when he wasn¡¯t also using conductive waters.


    ¡°You dare!¡± yelled the Demon as he came to his feet without the use of his own body. Only, telekinesis, and raw power were used to move him like a puppet, and left his movements far from natural.


    You see Troy, he couldn¡¯t even stand up without the use of mana just then, kick this rust bucket in the spark plug, roared Arson internally.


    Now that Arson looked at him, he wondered if his physique had been crafted by the continual use of telekinesis on his own body, and what sort of weaknesses that would result through the action.


    Jade had explained it in one of her many random lectures, but when Arson faced his very next challenge the lesson seemed to fit perfectly nearly every time. Why he now felt he should be aware of the potential weakness, disturbed him though.


    He wasn¡¯t in the ring, nor did he plan to join. Troy was apparently incredibly angry, and had just been loosed on a worthy target.


    The Demon sent out a dome of pressure in a pulse over and over as he chuckled. He stared Troy down and beat his chest as if to proclaim himself king of the jungle. The apex predator.


    ¡°What now, Queen? You really think you¡¯re fast enough to stop me?¡±


    Troy bobbed in place and for the first time her pores began to visibly drink in the light around her. Her skin glowed as if backlit by sunlight, and her veins pulsed with multi colored flares. The rainbow spread across all her visible skin and then she vanished once more.


    The Demon had assumed that basic forms of combat known to Cultivators would be able to defeat Troy, as it would honestly have done so with most speed based Cultivators.


    The problem with that assumption for Troy, was that most normal speed traps wouldn¡¯t work on her. When infused with light properly, Troy wasn¡¯t just fast. She was strong, and had a perception possibly higher than Arson even after he slowed things down to the maximum of his current abilities.


    Even all of that paled in comparison, to one thing. Her actual use of her own light affinity.


    The first kick she tried was again aimed directly toward the mid section as her starting attack normally was, but wasn¡¯t well enough timed, so she was blasted backward.


    ¡°You see, doesn¡¯t matter,¡± his words were cut off by another kick in the back from a HardLight clone that was timed in-between the pulse, slightly off as Troy had been. It mimicked her kick exactly, only a breath later.


    She moved again and again, each time closer to being unaffected by the pulses. Each strike made more of an impact, which caused the clones she summoned to hit harder as well.


    The Demon was barely able to defend himself, as Troy once again increased her speed and number of attacks.


    It was at this point that the Demon began to lash out in random directions in an attempt to catch Troy off guard. The only thing he managed to do was damage the cage that surrounded the arena floor.


    The situation was made worse by the barrier that surrounded the cage being drained unknowingly by Troy. The normally perfectly stable cage was being moved by the Demon¡¯s blasts of power and the magical backup used to anchor the cage in place now flickered as it weakened.


    The cage itself became uprooted in sections, lifted off the ground by the Demons attacks. He¡¯d even blasted the bodies of their other opponents to the edge of the cage, but paid for each unnecessary attack against the defenseless.


    Troy was only enraged by the actions, as she¡¯d once been one of the many opponents the Demon had done similar things to. Arson smiled as the first flurry kick landed. He was happy for his friend and her abilities, and that he was now not the only person to suffer through three to seven kicks in a matter of a breath by Troy.


    The move was painful, to experience at the least and so was the two HardLight clones mimicry that followed. Arson flinched at the sight and had to force down a chuckle when Lane smashed her face up against the glass of the viewing box.


    The Demon cursed aloud as he was bounced between two HardLight clones, while Troy took aim.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to do her new favorite, guys,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Bull¡­,¡± said a few in his group.


    ¡°Do what¡­?¡± Lane looked around and almost missed what happened but her camera caught everything, in slow motion as Arson did.


    The viewers of her channel watched as Troy appeared before the Demon the instant he was struck by the final two HardLight clone¡¯s kicks. He blinked in a daze only to receive a rising heel kick to the chin.


    He lifted decently high off the ground before Troy moved again. She appeared beneath his now horizontal body in an upside down crouch. She then rode his body like a surfboard through the air, and used the momentum left in his body to turn upright as he spun. .


    The crowd gasped as she kicked off the Demon like a spring board and shot toward the roof of the cage. When a HardLight clone appeared and mimicked her springboard action only inverted, the crowd was stunned to silence.


    The HardLight clone materialized in a crouch of its own above the Demon and rode his still in motion body and ended up beneath the young man as he fell like a boulder dropped from a mountain top.


    A breath before he struck the ground, the clone both kicked upward, and exploded with the collision into the arena floor.


    The Demon was sent like a rocket up and toward Troy. Arson feared for the young man¡¯s life by that point, as Troy seemed to be holding nothing back in that moment. She kicked off the roof of the cage so hard that the entire frame came free of the remaining weights in place to hold it down.


    HardLight clones filled the inside of the cage as Troy drank in even more fuel to perform her attack from practically every angle her mind could fathom all at once. Yet in that same instance, the mana shield¡¯s energy sputtered out.


    The Frame tipped toward the crowd and panic ensued within the front row on the opposing side of the audience from Arson as the cage itself smashed into seats and stunned frozen audience members alike.


    Before Troy could truly reveal her new skills. The Demon retaliated. He roared as he took control of his body in the air even as Troy dove full speed toward him. Arson knew she may not be able to overwhelm a telekinetic of a higher tier, but one ranked at her own tier, should have been easy to defeat in a versus. The corruption Troy had hinted at had been a joke to Arson until it was displayed before his very eyes.


    ¡°Force!¡± The Demon yelled the word and a physical presence could be felt as everything in the arena froze temporarily¡­the near dozen summoned projections of hardened light that dove toward the Demon from various angles¡­the cage that had begun to roll.


    Even Troy who glimmered like a near rainbow streak of deep and rich colors far beyond the speed easily captured by a non-Cultivator¡¯s eye was paused mid air like a streaking star. Her entire image stretched behind herself in a multi colored streak of light. Once again caught in an unseen grip; one she couldn¡¯t easily escape as she had prior.


    The Demon flew without the need of wings and closed the gap between him and Troy. He managed to grab her by the neck before she could regain the use of her own limbs.


    The back and forward between the Demon and Troy grew, as he through her into the inside of the still in motion cage and chased after her through the air. The two brawled in a bare knuckled slug fest and caused even more damage to the night club as the cage rolled and destroyed more seats.


    Panicked patrons fled in many directions, while others continued to eat and watch the fight from above or further in the audience.


    Lane watched dropped-jawed from their viewing box, unable to respond to the explosion of comments that rained in from her viewership.


    ¡°Come on Troy, you got this,¡± mumbled Arson as the fight went in either direction in a seemingly endless cycle of punches and devastating kicks.


    Arson was confused on how the Demon hadn¡¯t been disqualified for using an ability that marked him in a more advanced tier of combat, but his next actions ended any hope of him leaving unscathed.


    The blonde haired boy managed to suppress Troy¡¯s movements in a pivotal moment. The girl had been a breath away from a complete dodge, but instead, the Demon ripped his hand through her Torso.


    Silence ensued after the Demon dropped Troy¡¯s body outside the cage and bleeding on the arena floor.


    Arson looked to his mother in that moment, his shock apparent on his face. Jade shook her head at Arson as the stars in his eyes began to spin in a violent cyclone. A trait that would one day, invoke fear in all who witnessed the sight.


    Arson roared and the air shook. Some of the already damaged walls caused by the cage¡¯s movements crumbled further. While Arson¡¯s vision went red.


    ¡°Arson, no!¡±

 Chapter 18: Loosened Screws

    The Builder¡¯s viewing box exploded open, and a young man burst free of the box and crashed into the current underground champion. Arson was seen on live television for the first time in that moment, broadcast to potentially billions of viewers. His eyes a dark crimson red, that seemed to spin with galaxies within each pupil.


    For the Demon, he¡¯d done what any strong Cultivator would do against a true threat. To Arson, the Demon had just killed the one person that had accepted him without cost or requirement. Only unconditional friendship had been their bond.


    When they tore through the first wall of the night club, Arson had tears in his eyes. By the second wall his eyes blazed so brightly that his tears were sucked into the spiral like suns his eyes created.


    Punches and kicks were sent back and forward at speeds imperceivable to the natural eye. Most of Arson¡¯s blows missed or were countered by the underground arena champion, and every blow sent back toward the youth was practically a killing blow.


    Regardless, Arson pushed forward. Continued to chase his foe, even as his skin purpled from the weight of the punches that bashed against his skin, and kicks that literally cut him open. He ignored it all and let his regeneration keep him upright.


    The intensity of what he felt empowered him passed his limits and beyond. His rage manifested into a physical mana lightning that crackled on the surface of his skin from the center of his chest and rippled out down his limbs.


    In this state his regeneration was pushed to the point that instead of burning up instantly as Arson should have in that moment, he instead began to invoke the minor properties of a sun within his aura.


    ¡°Who do you think you are, brat?¡± tried the Demon. Arson didn¡¯t hear the words as he chased down the arena champion.


    At first, it seemed as if the Demon would easily overcome the small child that attempted to run him down, but the more they fought, the more matters changed.


    The Demon had a longer reach that he originally used to his advantage. A combination of punches and kicks broke Arson¡¯s bones on contact, and his rage grew deep, which only fueled his power.


    Then Arson¡¯s instincts flared after he was struck by the arena champion many more times. Between the damage his body rapidly worked to fix, his rage addled state, and the power he let flow free of his chest, Arson could feel absolutely nothing but elation as he began to strike back at his enemy.


    Knuckle punches from his small fists easily penetrated the Demon¡¯s own aura, and cause the older young man¡¯s limbs to go numb with each targeted pressure point. A spin kick to the head caused the Demon¡¯s eyes to go wide when he realized the youth in front of him almost managed to knock him off his feet.


    The arena champion realized he was in trouble a moment too late. As Arson began to move so quickly that the Demon¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t track his movements anymore. Another roundhouse kick was barely dodged as the Demon leaned back to avoid it. Which made the follow up uppercut to the gut hurt that much more.


    The Demon buckled forward and coughed as bile from his stomach jumped into his throat and he nearly puked, but Arson then grabbed him by the face. The Demon felt pure dread in that moment when Arson pulled him down to look him in the eyes and spoke softly.


    ¡°I will take everything from you¡­ I will laugh as you watch those you love burn, I will end you¡­¡± The Demon tried to speak, say anything to stop what he knew was to come from the little monster in front of him. He had nothing to do left in this life, but to wait for death¡¯s embrace to accept him.


    Arson dragged the Demon by his face. Conductive waters wrapped around the Demon¡¯s head. Arson¡¯s foe attempted to strike him, but it only made things worse.


    He¡¯d been changed by constant training over the past days. At night he was battered around by unnatural forces, and during the day his own mother seemed far more formidable than anything he could encounter after sundown.


    Arson was now meant to battle with a group of individuals not seen as normal Cultivators. The Demon did not meet that pedigree in the slightest. Which was now apparent as he was slugged repeatedly in the body, and slammed by his skull.


    Walls, seats, tables, anything Arson could use to cause his opponent pain was used. For the briefest moment the Demon slipped free of Arson¡¯s grasp, but he didn¡¯t make it far. By the time the Demon could take a breath, Arson had grabbed him by the ankle. With a roar the Demon was thrown through another wall and Arson continued to savage the Demon¡¯s every effort to escape.


    When the blonde haired boy dared to fight back, Arson blocked his punches, with his own fist, and crippled his enemy¡¯s digits with each attempt.


    Most kicks were countered outright with combos centered around his torso and head. The Demon only seemed to slow as his increased attempts to strike Arson failed.


    Arson seemed to be unnaturally tone. A density that came with a near unmovable weight now made it impossible for even the Demon to move him telekinetically.


    ¡°What the sparks kind of monster are you?!¡± Said the Demon, after a wave of force was walked through as easily as air. Arson truly hadn¡¯t noticed the Demon¡¯s attempts to attack him. He only felt rage.


    Arson shot conductive water orbs in the Demon¡¯s path each time the young man tried to turn and run. The Demon felt hope for the situation dwindle, especially after he realized Arson had began to time the explosions in a way that forced the arena champion back in his general direction.


    The Demon tried to use his telekinesis at its maximum output to swat away some of the conductive water orbs, and it worked at first¡­


    Then Arson began to shoot orbs the size of watermelons from both hands, and the Demon gave up hope after being bounced between explosions that guided him back toward Arson. Arson didn¡¯t even let the young man hit the ground before he tried to rip his own arm through the Demon¡¯s chest.


    The arena champion was saved by a random wave of energy that rippled out from the distance and stopped the punch cold. Arson merely roared as he slammed his fist through the wall of light and sent the arena champion up and through the ceiling into the second floor of the nightclub.


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    He hadn¡¯t even realized that someone else had stepped in to try and stop his assault, and had instead broken through the resistance almost as if there were none. Onlookers even cheered at the sight of Arson as the youth jumped through the hole in the ceiling as if he took a step up a single stair.


    He¡¯d never been so angry. He¡¯d never hurt so badly. He hadn¡¯t known Troy long, but he was closer to no one left alive. And until The Demon knew his pain, he would not let his wrath be tamed.


    He tried to focus, but the image of Troy wouldn¡¯t leave his mind. For the briefest moment he wanted to stop and break down, overcome with emotions, but his chest was filled with a storm that refused to be tamed or tamped down.


    Arson was unaware of his surroundings entirely. His group had never seen him this angry, and Jade had gotten to Troy before anyone else could, with a promise to the Builders to save her if possible. So they all continued with the plan for the night as if nothing was wrong. As if one of them hadn¡¯t just been killed by a predator.


    They all worked, and worried, but were partially shocked at their young leader¡¯s actions. They all hoped that they wouldn¡¯t lose Troy this way, and were even more fearful at what Arson would be like without Troy to keep him level headed.


    ¡°And finally we have a roasted phoenix drizzled with ambrosia honey and a side of purity grain rice as a bed,¡± said Rob to Almarine. He¡¯ed almost put down the plate on to Almarine¡¯s table but Arson broke through the wall, smashed the underground champion through the orphan mother¡¯s table, then managed to spartan kick the Demon out of the room.


    A massive hole was left where the wall had been, and the orphan mother was forced to watch the fight temporarily through the hole, rather than the screen Arson had just smashed the underground arena champion through.


    Almarine opened her mouth to try and say something to Arson, but had a feeling she¡¯d be wasting her time. She¡¯d seen him angry to this degree once prior, and the boy almost burned down an entire wing of the orphanage to stage his firework fueled revenge back then. She could only imagine what he would do now that he could feel the power of the sun rush through his veins.


    Almarine didn¡¯t mind the commotion though. She actually enjoyed the view similar to the most expensive viewing boxes above her. The richest members of local society got to enjoy and experience the action up close and without true barriers, and in that moment so did Almarine for the brief moment that the hole was there at least.


    ¡°Rob slid a nearby table over and two other orphans rushed into the room beside Xani and Jasmine. One orphan used earthen mana to reconstruct the stone walls of the nightclub, and the other used a small box to pick up all the debris of the table like a vacuum. Before Almarine could comment on the device that piqued her interest, the group spoke.


    ¡°He¡¯s going to bring down the nightclub at this rate, my people weren¡¯t prepared for this at all, we¡¯re lucky I even brought people,¡± said Xani in a panic.


    ¡°Yeah, the boss is pissed. Should we try and stop him?¡± asked Jasmine. The group looked at her bewildered, and Almarine chuckled.


    ¡°He¡¯s a bit out of your weight class girlie, he may even be a prodigy among prodigies at this point,¡± said the woman with a huge smile on her face.


    ¡°And I thought you loved all of us equally,¡± said Khalif as he ran into the room. He and two others at his flank jumped out the second hole Arson had created in the room, a moment before Xani¡¯s help closed the hole and the wall display once more showed Arson¡¯s rampage below.


    ¡°Served,¡± said Rob as he set down the plate on Almarine¡¯s table. Lane rushed into the doorway panting heavily. Her cameras were nowhere to be seen and she seemed to be exhausted in her attempt to keep up with the action.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m joining those training sessions with the running and stuff,¡± said Lane.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your cloud thing you rode on,¡± asked Jasmine.


    ¡°Confiscated,¡± said Lane with a wheeze. She pointed as if in question of which way she should go and they all nodded as they also followed the devastation that Arson¡¯s fury resulted in.


    Almarine looked back at her food and then the group of children as they left the room and smiled even deeper.


    ¡°It has begun again,¡± said Almarine as she blew out a cloud of blue mana clouds into the room and began to eat. Once more enthralled as she watched the now fixed wall that displayed the carnage around her.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Lane tried to collect herself before she spoke into the camera.


    ¡°This is what happens when the Builders, aka my new guild has any of its members disrespected,¡± said Lane. The wall behind her erupted and she was forced to duck as bricks rained down around her. The kitchen¡¯s walk-in freezer dislodged from the wall and slid into the hall near to her.


    ¡°Sovereign, the new scion I¡¯ve been talking about, hired me, and to be honest at first¡­¡± said Lane with a deep look into the camera.


    ¡°had my doubts¡­,¡± said Lane before the freezer was punctured by the body of the underground champion, and a roar escaped from its interior. All that Lane¡¯s cameras caught at first were two eyes that spun with spiraled suns at their centers. This moment alone would be watched more than anything in their city for the next season.


    Arson let loose two beams of light from his eyes so bright and powerful that they cleaved an immense hole through the nightclub and into the pitch black city sky above. The animalistic roar that accompanied the sun beams, only further added to the intensity of the situation.


    Arson had missed the Demon, but also filled the young man with fear. The underground champion now not only knew he could be killed in fare combat, but it could be accomplished easily and at any moment by his opponent. With this epiphany, he begun to panic further.


    ¡°She was just some street trash, kid!¡± said the Demon as he tried to throw things into Arson¡¯s path to slow him down. Yet, Arson merely smashed through walls as they were telekinetically uprooted and hurled at him, vaulted tables, and even punched a steel support beam in half after it was flung in his direction.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this, I can pay you everything, anything, whatever you want, kid. I promise. Just stop!¡± Arson had no intention of doing what he was asked to. The Demon would regret what he did to Troy and Arson wouldn¡¯t stop until he did.


    Arson finally caught the Demon when he begun to flee, the young man even turned his back to Arson as he ran in terror. Only to be grabbed by the back of the neck. The Demon felt what it was like to be slammed into the ground, only Arson broke through the ceiling and slammed him further into the arena below.


    The panicked audience members, had at one point attempted to leave during the original chaos, but as the Builders followed their boss and catered to the needs of the guests, they¡¯d returned to their seats.


    Arson turned the bloody young man toward himself and roared in his face. He once again grabbed the Demon by the front of his head and summoned conductive waters. At first the Demon managed to keep water from his lungs with the use of his abilities. Without them, he¡¯d had lost to Arson¡¯s assault long ago, and to Troy¡¯s onslaught even sooner.


    The barrier that covered his body broke under the chaotic orb around his head and the Demon began to thrash. He desperately tried to break free of Arson¡¯s small hand but couldn¡¯t. All fight leaving the Demon as Arson punched him for every attempt to escape.


    ¡°Arson, stop this, you have done enough,¡± said Jade. Arson didn¡¯t even look at his mother, but his response shook the air around them all.


    ¡°He will die here¡­¡±


    ¡°No one needs to die here, Arson,¡± said Troy in a weak voice behind him. Arson turned back to look at the voice in disbelief.


    The sight of Troy upright took his breath away.


    She was still covered in blood and seemed to wobble on her feet, but there was nothing but perfect skin underneath the ripped cloth of her shirt.


    ¡°Let him go, Arson,¡± said Troy softly. Arson looked at the Demon as his eyes pleaded back at him. Arson felt no remorse, and his eyes brightened as the stars within spun faster.


    ¡°Please, this is my foe to overcome, buddy. Don¡¯t take that from me,¡± said Troy. He looked at her smile in that moment and tossed the Demon aside. The bubble of water around his head popped as Arson¡¯s eyes returned to normal.


    Lane ran up to the group as the rest of the Builders settled around Arson. The girl looked between them all with a smile and nodded to herself. After what she¡¯d just witnessed the girl knew the group would be a lot to handle, but she¡¯d decided to join the Builders.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry guys, I lost it there for a second,¡± said Arson. His mother laughed, and Arson frowned when the woman wiped away tears of laughter from her face.


    ¡°What? Don¡¯t look at me like that. It¡¯s just the Fury Blood in your veins, you will eventually get used to it, and no, before you even ask, we should talk about this later. You have more pressing matters to deal with,¡± said Jade with a look around.


    ¡°Do you think Mr Kim is going to be mad,¡± asked Arson with a look at his mother. She was the only one there who¡¯d met the keeper who owned the ManaWell, and Arson worried over the backlash he and his group may receive from the owner of the destroyed building.


    ¡°Probably, he¡¯s a bit of a spark plug, not one I tend to communicate easily with, I think he¡¯s still mad I bought my rights to the dump back from his family,¡± admitted Jade with a sigh. Arson took a deep breath as he was filled with questions, he knew he wouldn¡¯t easily be able to get answered.


    He looked around at the damage and his guild doing their best to keep the building stable. They¡¯d managed to keep the exterior strong, but the inside, was destroyed almost completely.


    The guest left inside still ate and socialized as if what had happened was an everyday occurrence. Even though they¡¯d destroyed the nightclub, The Builders of Godhood had actually reaped quite a large yield from the event.


    Maybe enough to buy the place¡­?


    If it wasn¡¯t for the Builders, the room would resemble an empty warehouse used for raves. Arson looked at his guild, then the Demon as the young man tried to crawl away and shook his head before he took in the gazes of his family.


    ¡°How much you think this is going to cost me?¡±

 Chapter 19: Armory

    Arson took time to contemplate his decisions. Troy was sad, and he found himself bothered more and more by how much grief she felt over the loss to The demon.


    He¡¯d tried to talk to her about it, but she told him she didn¡¯t want to take her anger out on him, but he felt he was honestly being treated like a child. If he did something wrong, he wanted to know what exactly he did, and why it was the wrong thing to do.


    He¡¯d never before attempted to end someone¡¯s life, nor did he ever want to be that angry again. He didn¡¯t like the uncontrolled rage that overtook him, and would do anything to never be taken there again.


    So Arson did as his training and new disciplines demanded, he trained even more.


    So much in fact that he now felt he should unlock something within his Overlay. He hadn¡¯t made a direct choice yet, but settled for sure on a second point being put into Armor.


    He still hadn¡¯t mastered conductive water orbs full capabilities from what he saw in the vision from the SunStorm Sovereign when he¡¯d unlocked the skill, and didn¡¯t want another offensive ability that would need a lot of time before it was useful.


    He still didn¡¯t know exactly what an additional point into System would bring, and hadn¡¯t talked it over with Jade yet either. So that left him with an Armor choice that he thought would be an easy choice.


    Arson looked at his whopping 153k stat points. and paid for the unlock of Armor for ten thousand points. Which he thought was garbage because breaking a node had been that expensive, but he remembered that when the node opened entirely that his mana regeneration increased further, so he dismissed his complaints.


    Now that he¡¯d actually put the second point into Armor, he¡¯d had a nearly overwhelming decision to make. One that both confused and exhilarated him. He had 11 choices, all of which gave him something different, none of which seemed to correspond with one another.


    Cowl & Mask of the Sunlight wraith: As a hooded cowl, your face cannot be seen, nor your presence be sensed, future upgrades may offer invisibility dependent upon paths chosen. When pulled down, the mask of the Sunlight Wraith is fully activated, all energies consumed are infused into Mana heart & or Soul cores.


    Chest-plate of Elementals: For every elemental core consumed, another is born within you. Can you house the storm of all elements? Only one of the Omni prior came close, unable to build a body worthy of the storm of creation, basic storm elemental within. Properties: unknown.


    Shoulder-guard of Sovereignty: Worn by the first Angel born from the Omnipotent Sun, grants a wisdom-based blessing of instincts and reaction. May divinity guide your path toward the true power of the Sun¡¯s light.


    Shoulder-guard of Dominion: Worn by the first primordial demon born of the void within the Omnipotent Sun¡¯s shadow. This armament grants the power of the original sin, Rage of the black sun. Beware what lives at peace within the dark.


    Belt of the Sun-core: This belt with time can hold anything, even life forms. It devours the ambient mana of the wearer and grows as they do: *Accessory compatible with belt interface found: Watch of the Cosmos, available for link.*


    Gauntlet of Time & Spirits: This gauntlet drains the life from the living, in exchange, allows for basic time control. The larger the soul or sun eaten, the more control gained. Souls and sun energy can be stored within to also provide the user with grand tier time & space control. *Divine souls are required for these types of magics & sciences.*


    Gauntlet of Karmic Sunlight: This item can display the mood of the wearer and effect the environment based on the sensations being felt by its user. These effects can change how the wearer is viewed, responded to, and even affect luck within a battle. *Beware, this item can affect the wearer as negatively as it can positively, as the mental state of its user is all that controls the piece. *Be at peace young Sun-Storm.*


    Leggings of the Unnatural immortal: These pants were once worn by the oldest living mortal in existence. Made from the silk like strands of the Sun-Storm tree¡¯s roots, nearly nothing can penetrate the seamless weave. As their former owner was unrivaled in martial combat, his legacy remains within, as he wore nothing more than these pants, until his final moment and self-immolation.


    Foot-guard of Immovability: The more ambient mana this item drinks in, the more weight your every movement will contain. In addition, the more impossible it will be for you to be moved by external forces. *This item can outgrow the strength of the wearer and make them incapable of movement themselves.*


    Foot-guard of Unstoppability: The longer this item draws on your mana or soul energy during combat, the more quickly you will be able to move. *Some have run themselves into disintegration from the exhilaration felt by the inability to be stopped.* Run toward the light and you may live to see another breath.


    Left wing of the Sun Dragon: Pulled from the back of the Sung god of Destruction, this wing grants basic flight, and can be joined with other wing types to unlock grand tier destruction magics.


    Right wing of the Void-Sun Phoenix: This wing grants basic flight and can be combined with other wing types to grant grand tier Creation & healing science abilities.


    ¡°Holy sparks¡­¡± Arson felt overwhelmed. Jade had told him that creation type Cultivators normally would have an armor system built around a type or types of affinities their ancestry had claimed. He read his options seven times or more and couldn''t tell what his ancestry wasn''t attached to in the world of Cultivation.


    One of his ancestors had been the first immortal. The words of the option left Arson with questions, a slight revulsion and a potential roadblock.


    He didn¡¯t know if he could wear the pants of someone who¡¯d died in them, even if he also suspected that may have been the moment they became immortal.


    He also had many connections to magic, karma, and even divinity itself. In the end though, Arson decided to go from head to toe with his armor choices, and started with the head piece.


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    It seemed to be the simplest item and very beneficial in the short term. When he made the selection he had his new viral video in mind. He loved those on his side, but those that weren¡¯t, had an opinion on his youth that he couldn¡¯t fight.


    So the hood and mask combination seemed perfect. Sovereign would serve as his political side, and be hooded, and without a face. While Arson would serve as his Warfare persona, and be masked.


    He¡¯d always wished to be able to play more into his Gemini birth, born in the center of all seasons as he was, and now he could.


    He rose from his position and accepted the vision that would teach him his new ability. The vision consumed his sight completely and he was able to witness a new perspective once more.


    He was now in the body of a young man who howled with the roar of a dragon mixed with the shriek of a ghoul or demonic creature. Arson caught a look at the boy¡¯s appearance as he ran by a fountain filled with water and Arson felt his heart skip a beat.


    A literal tempest was wrapped around the young man¡¯s face in the shape of an armored headpiece. Its shape was a chaotic mix of a dragon skull and armor, but formed of elements.


    Water, lightning and wind masked the boy¡¯s appearance, and before Arson was able to feel more of what it was like to use the ability, the scene changed and the boy fought in the air, and inhaled a blizzard. The energy visibly enriched the lines of power that ran through his body.


    Then the vision changed once more and Arson found himself sitting across from an old man, not in a vision of another, but within his own body.


    ¡°How did I get here?¡± Arson tried to look around but couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the old man with the hood on in front of him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother to try and look around, a mortal¡¯s brain is incapable to perceive and process what is occurring behind me, so you may not be able to move while here, as for your question, you must have triggered some sort of requirement to attain my guidance in regard to something,¡± stated the man simply. Arson could only see the white beard beneath the hood as the man talked, and only attempted to look away a few more times before he gave up.


    ¡°I gained an ability, some sort of cowl made of light, it¡¯s supposed to affect things around me maybe, I am also unsure why I am here as well to be honest with you, sir.¡±


    ¡°Honesty doesn¡¯t matter here, boy, but yours is appreciated, many have sat where you are and asked to learn many things from me, but none have ever asked for something as simple as the illuminated cowl,¡± said the man with a grumble.


    ¡°Should I ask to learn something more valuable, I don¡¯t know what would help me more than the ability described,¡± said Arson. He purposefully left out the name of the ability he¡¯d chosen, as the man seemed to want to teach him something different potentially, which intrigued Arson.


    ¡°You seem to value basic knowledge above grand tier atrocities and the like. With the understandings of the basics of magic, I have twisted many portions of the Uni-Vare into my own direct control, sometimes even unintentionally, your respect of basic knowledges will get you far more time and information from me, boy.¡± Arson nodded and waited silently for the lesson to begin.


    ¡°Hmmm, this shall do¡­,¡± Arson felt the man move as he couldn¡¯t break line of sight with the man, and his periphery was hazy within the space he found himself.


    Then a line of light connected their foreheads and the man began to speak.


    ¡°This is a formal understanding connection, through this line our subconscious will be connected and as I instruct you, what I am trying to convey will truly be conveyed, even if you don¡¯t have an understanding of what words I use to speak or use.¡± Arson nodded and smiled, as he believed he understood everything thus far.


    ¡°Light is a manifestation of the lightest and most powerful form of energy in creation. To be able to control and manifest light requires internal atom splicing or parthenogenesis of mana enriched blood, either will work, you coincidently have both options which should make this easier for you. What you are attempting to learn is the cowl of illumination or maybe even a combination of many minor forms of omnipotent relic based armor,¡± said the man,¡± his eyes became visible to Arson and he felt his own mind shrink at the sight alone. His own power recognized the difference in depth between their minds and Arson became thrilled at what he now knew could be possible. Was this man even more powerful than a Keeper?


    ¡°This cloak draws in light, and also the thoughts and sensations of others if they look you in the eyes for long enough, your eyes will only be visible underneath the cowl when the ability is in use, and may also interact with technology through hacking basic operating systems. The more you understand of science and tech, the more systems you will be able to interact with. Finally, if you have a trinity core which you are close to completing, you may innately be attracted to treasure or items of power and knowledge.¡± Light began to pool atop Arson¡¯s head as he sat and stared down the man that seemed to hold all of two separate existences in each one of his eyes. Realms held within the clutches of a single being, only there to power the actions of the same entity that controlled them.


    The liquid light formed a cowled hood made of pure white light, with a tribal sun that moved chaotically in a crimson red at the back of his head. When it was completed, Arson¡¯s face disappeared behind a brilliant twist of sunset colors that made his facial features invisible.


    ¡°It seems you are good at listening as well,¡± said the old man, but Arson didn¡¯t remember when the man actually gave an explanation on how to form the cowl. When Arson thought on how to do it though, he felt he could easily achieve the feat.


    ¡°Your subconscious is far more powerful than your waking mind, it will listen to the directions I give it immediately, rather than think before attempting something, skipping mental barriers that you yourself would have put before yourself.¡± Before Arson could thank the man, he found himself once more atop a trash heap. He looked down to see everyone stare up at him.


    He pulled his cowl from thin air as if he wore a jacket and its hood was down. The others looked on in amazement. While most gasped in awe, Khalif laughed and spoke up first.


    ¡°You look like one of those Lava lamp things Xani found in the dump,¡± said Khalif with a laugh. Then Arson spoke and everyone went silent.


    ¡°Do I? Good,¡± said Arson with a voice both deep and smooth as tightly strung cello cords. Then Arson pulled the cowl down passed his chin.


    He ignored the prompt from his overlay as his new mask snapped into place. Arson felt the same energy build around his eyes as he had when he fought the Demon, and a swirl of energy erupted around his skull.


    The chaotic energy twisted around his head like a sun. Like in the vision a helmet formed, shaped like a dragon¡¯s skull, the only difference being the bird like features of Arson¡¯s own mask.


    The energy that twisted around his skull to make the mask also wasn¡¯t a simple storm, but made of sunlight and twisted gravity, infused with other energies such as Mana and Uni-Vare.


    His visage was terrifyingly powerful and threatened any who looked at him. Then he roared.


    The sound was like a Sun dragon, the most powerful of all dragons. It was not the full grown roar of the beast that could end a realm with its yell alone, but that of its child, new to the world of power and dominion.


    Half the training group scattered and hid, while the other half froze in place. Arson began to laugh, which somehow also managed to be impressive, before he pulled down his cowl entirely once again to show his face.


    ¡°This is going to be fun,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Please tell me you don¡¯t plan to wear that to the meeting with Sven and his boss,¡± Arson turned to see Troy step atop the trash heap and smile at him.


    ¡°Yeah actually I do. Maybe not the mask, but the hood for sure,¡± said Arson as he once again lifted the cowl and slid it beneath the crown that floated above his head.


    ¡°The light from your hood makes your crown look that much cooler, kiddo,¡± said Troy. She tapped his crown and it made a soft hum that made her smile when she heard it.


    ¡°I wish you wore it out more,¡± said Lane. Arson once more hid his crown, as the cameras came into view. He was sad to have to take on what he felt to be his serious persona, as that had been the first time he¡¯d seen his friend smile since her match, and she¡¯d barely stopped training since.


    ¡°My crown is for my people and those who choose to follow me, not the realm abroad Lane. We¡¯ve spoken about this already,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Well, Sovereign, my people enjoy the crown and you get more views when it¡¯s out,¡± said Lane. Arson was again glad that his facial expression couldn¡¯t be seen. Both now as he rolled his eyes at Lane, and earlier when Troy had made his cheeks warm when she¡¯d touched his crown.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t change what I just said Lane, I appreciate your fans attention, but not at the cost of my own morals.¡± Lane nodded and smiled back at him.


    ¡°So boss, what are your plans now, after the rumble in the ManaWell, anything new and exciting?¡±


    ¡°No, not really. Other than what the Builders have planned for this week,¡± said Arson with a smile toward Troy, who smiled back even though she couldn¡¯t see his face.


    ¡°Oh, and what is that?¡± asked Troy to build excitement for Lane¡¯s viewership, as she already knew what was next.


    ¡°Builderfest.¡±

 Chapter 20: Builders

    Arson stood alongside Xani and Khalif in front of a wall full of separate camera screens. Displayed were dozens of tandem hover bikes, and their projected surroundings. On them, were mostly teams of two and three, but sometimes teams of four could be seen.


    The higher the value of the goods being sold, the higher number of team members. Salesperson, and guard minimum. With the higher numbered teams expanded to include a spacial containment expert from Xani¡¯s group and an additional salesperson from the newly designated BlackHole.


    Arson liked the name for what he thought to be the parent company of all his sales groups, as well for the eventual storefront.


    Arson watched as the spacial experts, unloaded entire stores worth of product based on requested categories by customers. Salespeople that seconded as chefs, cooked meals from kitchens dropped by those same spacial experts, and some bodyguards even recruited for BlackHole from some interested parties.


    The bodyguards only recruited when the other members of their team were semi-trained. This was because the entrance challenge to join was to beat the guard in a one-on-one fight, and things sometimes didn¡¯t go as planned.


    Not all truly wanted to join, and knew the cargo that the new hover bikes seen around town held.


    This caused Xani and Arson to develop a system that could instantly pick up and store all nearby inventory and display cases into small spacial storage boxes they¡¯d made and continued to advance further as more needs became required for the groups to operate.


    ¡°Do you think we will have a good turnout?¡± asked Arson to his peers.


    ¡°Are you kidding me,? All I can hear on the streets is about the Builderfest. I thought that it would only be cool to the orphans but apparently even the common folk and the lower spectrum cultivator communities are interested,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°Yeah, I have many vendors very excited to show off their products,¡± said Xani. Arson nodded, and hoped all of the entertainment he¡¯d planned for the event would actually show up. He¡¯d been laughed at by many of those whom he¡¯d proposition as himself, but got better results when he introduced himself as the newest scion in the city of Maelstrom.


    ¡°We will see in a few days, but the advertising seems to be going well,¡± said Arson. The others nodded along, and Arson finally turned to Xani when he was satisfied with the movements of the orphans on screen.


    ¡°So I have managed to levitate for almost a handful of breaths and I wondered if we could maybe skip forward and work on propulsion, I know I need to be able to stop at anytime, but I figure if I can aim away from the ground, bare minimum, I won¡¯t end up scrambled eggs on the pavement.¡± Xani rolled her eyes at Arson and shrugged.


    ¡°Skip around if you want, bossman, it¡¯s your life on the line. That¡¯s the best part about learning to fly,¡± said Xani with an exhilaration in her voice Arson didn¡¯t know that he would ever truly experience. He had learned how to levitate from Xani through a mana manipulation technique that was known as the basis to flight in the cultivation world. Regardless, his fear of heights still remained.


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep focused, it is not that I run out of mana, it is like my mind goes on auto pilot and the technique cuts off,¡± said Arson. Xani once again rolled her eyes at him.


    ¡°Start from the beginning every time that happens, and eventually, it won¡¯t anymore,¡± said Xani.


    It was Arson¡¯s turn to roll his eyes. He did as she said. Nonstop. In every moment he could. Before long, he was forced to increase his physical training as a result of being constantly afloat.


    Days passed and it became a regular sight to see Arson a half foot to a foot off the ground. He refused to skip steps, Xani wouldn¡¯t let him, but that only reaffirmed his gut feeling.


    Shortcuts would kill him in the long run. So he trained. He fought off the ground. He even took more risk during combat by nearly being able to fly.


    This alongside his poisonings, took up the majority of his available time. He gave his spare moments to the need of his guild, but primarily trained with his mother.


    He barely got to see Troy which bothered him, but she planned on a return to the dump at night.


    She¡¯d fought almost every single night since she¡¯d fought the Demon, and slept after every fight, rather than be able to stay up with Arson.


    Arson trained during the day, and also at night. He wished he didn¡¯t love it as much as he did, so that maybe he had time for other things, but he figured if it truly mattered to him, that he would eventually find the time.


    ¡°I think you are finally ready for propulsion, buddy,¡± said Xani. Arson held his hands over his eyes and refused to remove them.


    ¡°If I look down I think I may pass out, if I didn¡¯t know I could survive a fall from here I¡¯d probably already be asleep,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°We walk off the roof and you immediately closed your eyes, kid. How are you going to fly around with your eyes closed the whole time?¡±


    ¡°I changed my mind. I don¡¯t need to fly. I¡¯m going to run really fast instead like Troy!¡±


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    ¡°Yeah right, and your mom should give up on those massive portals she can make because they look terrifying to enter, and ride a unicycle everywhere,¡± responded Xani sarcastically. Arson still hadn¡¯t entered one of his mother¡¯s portals, nor did he plan on it any time soon. Even if the dungeons inside some of them could help him get faster more quickly.


    ¡°Wait, are you insulting users of motion? I¡¯d like you to say that to Troy¡¯s face,¡± said Arson with a laugh and was rewarded with a very stern glare from the older Xani.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you look at me like that. I¡¯m not sure even you could get away from her now. No other clouds have gotten away in the ring and you know how they are,¡± said Arson. Xani nodded, as she herself was a cloud, or sky traveler. Whereas Troy was a user of motion or increased speeds.


    Arson had dreams of being both, a cloud, and a user of motion, but would settle on the sky over anything else. He no longer wanted to fear any fall, small or large.


    ¡°Forget about that, bossman, I need you to open your eyes and concentrate.¡± Arson did as the young woman directed and centered himself as he¡¯d learned to while he levitated.


    They were dozens of floors off the ground and traffic rushed below them, both hover car and street terrain vehicles alike. Xani had chosen such a height both for their safety and the seclusion offered.


    Arson had to force himself not to look at the vast city below him. His mind had always been enraptured by beautiful sights, and the marvel beneath his feet was not an exception to be missed.


    The beautiful city of maelstrom could be seen in every direction. Luscious green grass topped roofs. Trees lined buildings made of sandstone and glass. Waterfalls splashed softly down the side of skyscrapers, and flowed into fountains.


    Arson¡¯s breath was taken away every time he took in the patterns made by the rivers that lined the streets of Maelstrom. The entire city seemed to glimmer like a diamond in the sunrise.


    ¡°I said FOCUS!¡± Arson took his eyes from his surroundings and smiled at Xani. For the first time in his life, he felt less fear at being high up, and he knew this was what Xani meant for him to experience.


    ¡°Sorry, this place is just beautiful,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Yeah, and that¡¯s exactly why the dump is so bad and we have that much more work to do,¡± said Xani while she orbited Arson.


    ¡°Will you stop, you¡¯re making me dizzy, woman!¡± Xani only giggled.


    ¡°As you have learned thus far, everything is a system of give and take, the energy used, both comes from one point and must be distributed elsewhere, this is also the premise behind ambient mana,¡± said Xani. Arson rotated slowly in an attempt to keep up with Xani¡¯s circular flight path.


    ¡°If you can manage to power your flight with external or ambient manas, you will never need to calculate whether you have available resources during your flight.¡±


    Arson had already gotten a decent handle on the ambient mana levitation, which was common to learn for clouds or those born with wings, but the next level of the skill was almost impossible for most to learn.


    ¡°For this next step, you will have to learn circular breathing, as well as how to make the ambient mana around you perform the same task,¡± said Xani. Arson¡¯s face scrunched and Xani giggled.


    ¡°I have to make the mana breathe in a circular pattern?¡± Xani closed her eyes slowly and sighed before she shook her head.


    ¡°No, my young crime lord, you must breathe in a circular pattern, and make the mana around you move in the same style of system,¡± said Xani as Arson gestured for her to continue.


    ¡°You breathe in oxygen, and your lungs process the air into the blood stream and it nourishes the body and then you expel carbon dioxide, simply put, fill yourself with power from around you, use it and expel what remains,¡± said Xani. Arson was nearly on the verge of an epiphany, and his mind raced at the possibilities of what Xani hinted at.


    ¡°So¡­ how do I translate that into mana usage,¡± asked Arson. Xani shrugged and smiled back at him.


    ¡°I have no idea, I did it by a fluke, and truly don¡¯t know how I understand the process, but my body does and that is all that matters,¡± said Xani. Arson nodded at her as he thought to himself.


    ¡°In the example given, if I were to try and think of my core as my lungs, and mana as oxygen, what is the difference between my natural mana regeneration and the process you have in mind for me?¡± It was Xani¡¯s turn to think before she responded. The girl tapped her chin as she floated smoothly through the air around Arson, posed as if she was lying on a couch comfortably.


    ¡°Let me put it like this, one is active and the other is passive, your regular process is like breathing without thought, and this process should be considered the equivalent to deep concentrated breaths, like during meditation, when the process is automated, it sustains, but when it is focused you can achieve more, move longer, push harder,¡± said Xani. She had no idea what she was truly able to give to arson in that moment, but with his new understanding, Arson would be forever changed.


    ¡°So how do I begin to circular breathe?¡±


    ¡°Easy, well not easy, but easily practiced. Open your mouth slightly, and use the muscles of your abdomen to compress and decompress your lungs, the effort comes from the continual intake of air through your mouth or nostrils, what you will be able to achieve eventually is endless breaths, the continual filling of your lungs with fresh air, even without the need to exhale or inhale,¡± said Xani. Arson had once more closed his eyes and listened intently as he attempted the process.


    When Arson woke up in a nose dive toward a lane of air traffic, he¡¯d realized he must have done something wrong and passed out. He screamed and before he could ram face first into a sky taxi, Xani caught him by the ankle, and pulled him back into the air above the skyline.


    ¡°Looks like you need more training, kid!¡±


    Arson nodded and tried not to flail as Xani set him down in a rooftop garden. The two sat and conversed on random matters.


    Arson spoke on the epiphany he¡¯d had before they¡¯d stopped flight practice, and Xani discussed her struggles with completing the perfect drone for the dumps needs.


    ¡°So what¡¯s wrong with the ones you are already making, they seem fine enough, excluding the weaknesses you just brought up?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing dude, those weaknesses are the only things left that cause us to lose money. They need to be combat ready, fast, and able to carry a large load,¡± stated Xani. Arson nodded as he thought and spoke without thinking.


    ¡°Man, that sucks, makes me think of the story that Jade told us over dinner the other night, about how cultivators used to fly on swords because they were incredibly aerodynamic when filled with mana and could always be used as a backup weapon, makes me wish I could teach your drones swordplay,¡± said Arson with a few fake stabs toward a nonexistent enemy beside them. Xani didn¡¯t say a word, and Arson began to wonder he¡¯d said something dumb and looked at his chosen rival.


    ¡°OMG! You are truly a genius!¡± The girl squealed in excitement as she shot to her feet and let her ideas flow free.


    ¡°All I have to do is build the storage devices for our deliveries into the handles of swords, if I use the swords in the dump. I already have the shells for the drone bodies, and with a little programming magic and testing, I may be able to have the swords defend themselves,¡± said Xani with a few faux fencer¡¯s strikes of her own toward Arson.


    ¡°Wait, what now?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You will see, little lord!¡± Xani hugged Arson and took flight without a single extra word. All alone on the rooftop, thousands of feet above ground.


    ¡°No problem, I should be able to get back just fine on my own,¡± yelled Arson to the empty air. He rolled his eyes after a moment and rose to his feet.


    Thousands of feet above the city below, Arson strolled confidently up to the edge of the rooftop, closed his eyes, took a deep breath and prepared before he set his sight on his destination in the distance and jumped.


    He focused on his breaths as wind whipped pass his face and body. Mana thrummed throughout his being as light filtered in through his pores. He felt the moment of weightlessness take over, and he was propelled forward with a jerk but the power sputtered and flickered out in the next moment. He screamed a curse and tried to focus on everything but the quickly approaching ground below.


    ¡°I am not my own worse enemy, I am Endless¡­¡± Arson repeated the words over and over, until a mere few hundred yards separated him from death.


    No one is coming to save you Arson, come on!


    Arson felt the gravity around him distort after his realization. The power he¡¯d felt earlier thrummed to life once more and shot forward like a hawk in a dive.


    Buildings stretched around him in his vision as his power exploded violently behind him to propel him faster. He was barely in control, but he didn¡¯t care, as he was flying.


    ¡°Woohoo!¡±

 Chapter 21: Panoramic

    Armor didn¡¯t like the lie being told. She the queen of her own kingdom, had only 6 children. It was her husband who had seven.


    This boy, newly named, Sovereign, was not born of her womb.


    The child had been taken from his birth mother, Elizabeth Carter. The proclaimed heir of all things illegal. The keeper of Ikarus, not her.


    ¡°I refuse to envy you, Jade, no matter how talented your child seems,¡± said Armor. In the center of a small island, the queen of Maelstrom stood alone. She was entirely surrounded by clouds.


    The clouds around her displayed many different scenes. All of which held her children, and the proclaimed crowned scion. She decided not to go to the festival with her family. She hadn¡¯t even been interested until her husband decided to go as well.


    She couldn¡¯t monitor him as she could others, but Arsenal had been seen with her children occasionally within the images shown.


    The clouds continued to twist as more and more of the festival filled in around her. As her children explored, more of the location would be available for her to access mentally for a period. It wasn¡¯t until she began to look around that she realized that her husband was right about two things.


    One, she should have truly trained the ability more. Half the time she found herself interested in something around her, the sight would disappear before she could truly analyze the items or luxuries.


    While the second was that she should have gone. The place was filled with value and things were incredibly cheap as far as she could tell.


    Her youngest Alexander, had already spent over a million credits on food alone. The bottomless pit that was his stomach should hold more praise than the amount spent with how affordable the different cuisines made were.


    Armor was astonished at the varieties of different styles of foods, as most seemed to be from different cities, countries, and seemingly even different realms.


    This was proven by the Celestials of western winds, whose food practices were known to be the most strict in nearly all the known realms love for one of the food booths. Many other cultures with heavy foreign based food preferences also seemed to be honed into a single food stall or station. Which made Armor wonder if Arson had designed things with all tastes in mind.


    This was something that would normally be impossible, but when Armor thought of Elizabeth Aurora Carter, she recognized the potential of the impossibility of the thought being more probable than improbable.


    Then her eyes followed Axis, her fourth born. The girl only had a mind for beauty and fashion. So when she heard that her youngest brother had successfully started his own clothing brand before her, she was immediately interested in how.


    Armor had told the girl it was as simple as access and resources, with a pinch of reputation. Arson was an unknown factor, which created buzz, and from what Armor could see about him thus far, he branded himself well.


    She¡¯d thought that her normal grains of knowledge would satiate the girl, but it hadn¡¯t, and now Axis was being followed by a train of followers and baggage.


    She¡¯d lost herself in the clothes from worlds seemingly lost to most. Revived by her youngest brother, the clothes were treasures his older sister would cherish forever. Unlike most fashionistas, Axis actually wore all of her clothes.


    The girl changed constantly and had even changed 3 times since she¡¯d arrived at the festival grounds outside the Junkyard of Maelstrom. Seeing how Jade secretly owned the realm itself it didn¡¯t matter what her son was allowed to do with the land, it was theirs to do with as they wanted.


    For their accomplishments the dragon and the phoenix of the previous generation, were given control over the realm and ownership over the realm prospectively.


    Her husband designated the rule of all societies within, while Jade owned every spec of dirt a Cultivator¡¯s foot could tread, down to the atom or molecule even.


    The new festival grounds only seemed like a small beginning for the final born son of her Husband. Which only unnerved her further.


    She had betrayed her husband, and he¡¯d betrayed her in return. A mistake she now paid for, and she wondered if Arsenal took pride in.


    The image of her son Auto hadn¡¯t changed. As he hadn¡¯t moved. The boy had been frozen by the Drone station just outside the festival grounds for what seemed like the entire morning.


    He was captivated completely. The drones constantly moved around containers full of what Armor assumed was trash. Armor hadn¡¯t known why an organization called BlackHole would buy all of the airspace rights for above the Junkyard and Dump, until she saw what occurred in front of Auto¡¯s eyes.


    Now when the city¡¯s garbage was brought to be dumped, instead of a careless crop-dust of trash over the grounds, air traffic was regulated.


    Different air transport vehicles flew in organized lanes and were now forced to dump their product in large containers based on the various sizes of the trash hauls. Armor could only guess at the point of the new style of trash keeping, but no one else wanted to do the job, and nor did she.


    Her son could probably tell her more, but Auto hadn¡¯t answered his flatscreen since he looked at the first drone owned by BlackHole. Armor gave up hope on any information being gained until she was able to speak to him later.


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    Then her eyes flickered toward Aura, and her mouth opened slightly in surprise. Her prize fighting champion of a daughter didn¡¯t lose. Ever. But¡­ apparently that was no longer true.


    She¡¯d now failed to pass a no mana challenge against a pair of fraternal and nearly identical twins three times now. She was even in a rush to jump back in the line for the challenge again, even as it grew longer.


    ¡°By the sparks of the maiden, child, it¡¯s rigged, don¡¯t get back in line,¡± said Armor as she texted her daughter the same thing on her flatscreen. The message was ignored after a glance and Aura once again chatted with the locals in line.


    The objective of the challenge was to beat the twins in a 2v1 encounter without the use of mana, which would be nearly impossible as both of the twins practiced circular breathing.


    In fact all of the attendants, guards, and even the cooks and cleaning staff practiced circular breathing.


    The regeneration of all of the well-practiced was far higher than normal, while even the worst of the BlackHole staff still seemed to work at a higher than normal speed and efficiency.


    The twins in the challenge took the breathing exercise to an entirely new level. The cycle of their breaths not in sync, but in flow of one another. One exhaled, as the other inhaled.


    To make things worse, they not only absorbed ambient mana naturally, which skirted the rules of mana use; they also absorbed the mana being expelled and used by the cultivators they fought.


    It was very rare that either twin needed assistance to take down an entry, Aura being one of them, but the holograms of the previous victors, gave all who walked by false hope.


    Armor could tell that the children in the video weren¡¯t younger, but they had been far less trained when the previous victors had accomplished the feat.


    As Armor watched she realized that even the challenge was more of a benefit to the twins than anyone else. They got endless challenges and for each loss half of the credits given by each defeated entry went into a jackpot that could be won by the next victor. Yes someone incredibly powerful could eventually come and win by a difference in cultivation levels, but that would be seen as beneath any that Armor saw doing it easily.


    The twins fought many different styles of martial forms and variant skill sets, and the grace shown in each victory they gained was honorable. They learned from every fight, and the line was now nearly as long as the one to get into the festival grounds itself.


    When Armor¡¯s eyes found Amethyst her eldest, she frowned, but then tilted her head in confusion. She hadn¡¯t seen her face at first, and both the girl¡¯s position and recent disposition had given her a moment of fear.


    Amethyst sat atop a very tall tree. The realm¡¯s tallest tree species in fact. Most were taller than skyscrapers, but this one was merely half of that.


    The perch gave her an unrivaled view of not only the festival grounds, but also the dump.


    A dump that both Armor and Amethyst were shocked to see was being converted into a garden.


    Trash was being lifted and moved, and others worked the land. Some cultivators used basic techniques known by even the most basic of farmers, but the magnitude of available workers was unmatched; which only increased the quality of the renovations exponentially.


    Amethyst smiled at the work being done, while her younger sister Ash obviously felt completely different.


    When Armor finally settled on her second born, the only other child as driven as Arsenal, Ash, her heart skipped a beat.


    Ash was in the clouds above a flying limousine, filled with the core members of BlackHole. The bomb she held of Auto¡¯s design, could have only been completed with the help of many of her other siblings. That same bomb that Armor couldn¡¯t help but smile when she saw.


    The smile only got wider when Ash, and a few others in hoods landed on the roof of the limousine as it flew toward the festival grounds.


    ¡°Good luck little Arson, you have met a flame grander than your own.¡±


    ¡­


    Arsenal chose to hide his crown as he sulked through the festival. He¡¯d originally been in a grand mood, but the more he saw of his unknown son¡¯s accomplishments, the more his mood soured.


    Arsenal had long had a problem with his children. Not that he didn¡¯t love them all, more that none of his children were as versatile as himself, his wife, nor any of the more refined ancients that held significant power within the CityNation of maelstrom, and or the Archon family.


    His youngest son on the other hand had managed to gather both power, notoriety and even an obvious wealth that made the man¡¯s frown deepen. All his other children would have struggled to create the festival around him with the support of one another, let alone with orphans older than themselves without the privileges of being an HonorBorn.


    ¡°The maiden plays us all for fools sooner or later¡­¡±


    He felt anger build in his chest and had to force down the flames that began to leak from his pores. None of these people had taken his son from him; so their deaths wouldn¡¯t help, nor bridge the gap between him and Arson. Far from it.


    The best candidate for the throne, can never claim it¡­


    The food was good. The people who catered to the public, were well-trained and precise in their duties. Even other high nobles that the king had spotted, that must have also snuck in to scout things out seemed surprised by both the service and to realize the king was present and also incognito.


    Arsenal found himself not only excited to see what was next, but also wondered if there was any way to change the fate of his family.


    ¡°I may be a fool being used by you, Maiden, but we will see who laughs when my will cracks the heavens and defies all reason. I will choose as I please, laws of the realms be damned¡­¡±


    ¡­ End of Vol 1¡­


    Epilogue: The will of Ikarus


    Jade walked through the dump with the sounds of celebration in the background. She smiled at the thought of her son and what he¡¯d done in such a short time.


    With his return, her life had changed. Not only for the better, but had also become more difficult, which had only surprised Jade.


    She¡¯d learned to live with the cares of very few people, but found herself more and more wrapped up with the village that was attached to Arson.


    Her son must have been a leader even before even he¡¯d known it, as Jade believed that his current group of friends wouldn¡¯t have been so quick to follow a seven season old child, potentially wealthy or not.


    Many scions had wealth. Even more had unfathomable power in the day and age they lived in.


    Their realm was near to heaven, and only two realms could claim to rival the amount of mana or Uni-Vare found within their realm.


    One was the realm of the 21 families of Omni and Omen, Endless, which in fact was once said to rival heaven itself. The other was her home, Cloud Lake City, a place she missed but could never return to. Something she hoped to be able to change one day with the aid of her son.


    Finally she came to the black hole nearest to her home and jumped in. Darkness enveloped her, until gravity shifted and she was forced to turn her dive into an upward assent.


    When she emerged a new landscape was revealed. A land lost to time and space. The dead world of magic and creation, SunSpire Citadel.


    ¡°If Arsenal knew I could come back here whenever I pleased, he¡¯d spark his own pants,¡± said Jade as she landed. She had one destination in mind and was excited to complete her task.


    There was only one way she knew of to speak with the guardian of Endless, and that was through the only Mirror of Uni-Vare she¡¯d ever managed to find. The path was long, but she was patient and in no rush, and managed to find the mirror inside a building large enough to block out the 7 multi-colored suns above.


    Once inside she flew to the top floor, which took longer than her entire trip so far to travel. She walked into a room with a stadium sized pool and no walls only pillars. The space was only reachable from within, and after the Construct Tower¡¯s trials were completed. A feat she managed while pregnant¡­


    ¡°Hello, PRO¡­¡±


    Once in the middle, a body of a beautiful woman formed from the water and smiled at Jade before she spoke.


    ¡°Ahh, hello my favorite, are you here to ascend finally and complete Heavens Tribulation, Elizabeth? You know I still believe you are the one the Fates speak of, I¡¯m excited to see your return to the Towers of Endless,¡± said the beautiful woman. Jade merely shook her head and smiled.


    ¡°No PRO, I actually need to cash in that favor you owe me.¡± The woman smiled and nodded before she spoke.


    ¡°Oh, and what may you have the teachers of Origin do for you, my darling?¡±


    ¡°I need you to kidnap my son.¡±

 Chapter 22: Entrance of Dragons & Phoenixes

    Vol 2: Growth & Grace


    ¡°You need me to what?¡± PRO looked at Jade with a confused gaze. The woman had just been asked to kidnap a scion; a task she hadn¡¯t completed in what felt to be a few centuries or more.


    ¡°Are you sure, child, most who experience Endless without choice, often don¡¯t survive, nor grow,¡± asked PRO. She watched the woman¡¯s gaze change from its normal stoicism, to a never before seen worry.


    It seems that she has finally found something she values more than herself, or Anastasia,. Makes me wonder if she will truly commit?


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice,¡± said Jade as she tore her eyes away from the SunSpire Citadel. The dead land of Marvels was as beautiful as a masterwork of art and architecture; a sight that Jade missed and wished she could return to more often. Only she knew that with the rise of the Omen scions, her own son¡¯s development should be her highest priority, or he would not survive the trials to come to the Omni realms.


    ¡°Well then, where would you like me to begin,¡± said PRO with a smile that grew as she spoke. PRO needed as many scions as she could get to finish the uncompleted Skyscrapers of Endless, as that was the only way for the locked knowledge of the heavens to be returned to Uni-Vare and be accessed by Cultivators connected to the system.


    Jade thought a moment as she knew her son was well rounded when it came to his education. Her truest worry was that he had no individual trump cards he could access to overcome overwhelming odds, a factor she could no longer ignore with Arson¡¯s acceptance into StormLight Academy, the second most prominent school in the Omni¡¯s middle realms.


    She herself had joined the number one school in all the realms, Cloud Lake City¡¯s, Adroit Academy. She wanted him to attend the same school, but as she couldn¡¯t return to the CityNation she was born to, that option was out of the question. She couldn¡¯t defend Arson from such a distance no matter how powerful she was, and refused to lose her son to her enemies.


    You cannot coddle the boy either, you know from personal experience how much that will hinder his successes, Jade thought to herself. This thought alone also gave her an answer to PRO¡¯s question, and Jade felt she knew it was the best choice for Arson.


    ¡°Take him to the Runic tower of the SkyFather, I may not have been able to make it to the peak, but my son is much more disciplined than I was at his age, I believe he will make Arkanous and Amorra proud, my parent¡¯s standards seemed unrivaled, but now I feel as if I am expecting my own son to carry the weight of existence on his shoulders, how time changes all answers¡­¡± said Jade with a heavy sigh.


    It was then that PRO approached the young woman and put a hand on her shoulder, before she raised Jade¡¯s chin to look her in the eyes.


    ¡°Smile, child. Your path may be difficult, and your choices may suppress your inner light, but as the Queen of Ikarus, you know the truth, we must rise, or the heavens will fall.¡±


    Chapter 22: Entrance of Dragons & Phoenixes


    Arson was excited. The videos Xani transmitted showed that the Festival was beyond their expected capacity by a large amount. So they decided to make an entrance in style. Arson and the others had managed to restore a destroyed flight limousine that had been scrapped for parts. Parts hard to find, anywhere but the junkyard of Maelstrom.


    The project had taken nearly as long to complete as they had been in operation, but now the entire group lounged comfortably in a space the size of a single bedroom home¡¯s Living room.


    ¡°You guys think my mom is proud of me?¡± Arson spoke aloud to the group and only really had expected Troy to respond, but was surprised when nearly everyone spoke up.


    ¡°I think she is a completely different person now that you are around, my guy,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°Yeah, kid, you don¡¯t remember how some of the older kids used to describe her. I can almost see it sometimes in the way she instructs us in the kitchen, but then she softens up in ways I¡¯d never expect in front of you, kid. It¡¯s cute,¡± said Rob.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard her called a demon, a menace, killer, thief, and even a cu-¡± started Jasmine. The stars in Arson¡¯s eyes begun to spin and her words seemed to change mid sentence.


    ¡°Yeah, lots of things, but never nice, and she obviously is if she id ealing with all of us brats alongside our little crime lord, that¡¯s a lot,¡± finished jasmine.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been here that long and even I see that you make her happier, all the footage I¡¯ve ever seen of her she¡¯s never smiled, but she smiles at you often,¡± said Lane.


    ¡°Did any of you even hear the question, I thought he asked us if she was proud of him,¡± said Xani with a chuckle.


    ¡°He did, and I know he isn¡¯t hunting for compliments, nor is he stupid, so maybe just less aware emotionally sometimes,¡± said Troy. Arson looked at her, and noticed her upward stare.


    I wonder if she is nervous or something,  thought Arson to himself. The two shared a glance, and Arson begun to worry before Troy shook her head and whispered to him that everything was okay, so Arson looked back to the others and spoke.


    ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that I truly don¡¯t know anything about my mother, I could find out she birthed me herself tomorrow and that still wouldn¡¯t change the fact that I don¡¯t really know what kind of things she would be proud of.¡± Arson looked around and received a few shrugs, a nod and a rare smile from Troy, who still seemed distracted by something he was unaware of.


    ¡°Obviously, you little brat! Or she wouldn¡¯t have claimed you, given you a name other than the one they give to all nameless boys in the realm, showered you in untold knowledge, trained you personally. She is proud of the boy who came to her with a small idea and made it into all of this,¡± said Troy with a wave of her hand around them. Arson smiled back at her and gave her a nod of his own in appreciation. Then the silent alarm was triggered and Xani was alerted. A red box popped up in Arson¡¯s vision and informed him that their were 5 airborne targets that approached them at rapid speeds.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Our shield is disabled boss they¡¯re going to land,¡± said Xani suddenly alarmed.


    ¡°Who!¡±


    ¡°How should I know that,¡± retorted Xani.


    Five thuds sounded with metallic clangs atop the vehicle and Arson and the others all rose. They shared looks and a breath later, five individuals could be seen through the windows as they flew away and out of the radar of Xani¡¯s drones.


    ¡°Well that was anticlimactic,¡± said Jasmine. Then the vehicle exploded. The entire group was sent in various directions as the explosion shredded the vehicle from hood to trunk. None were guarded from the flames and shrapnel and Arson awoke mid free fall, with his shirt on fire and a hole through his hand.


    ¡°Sparks,¡± cursed Arson as he winced in pain. He was built tougher than most around his age, which made him worry for their lives. Then he heard the first familiar voice and scream.


    ¡°Arson,¡± yelled Troy as she hurdled end over end through the sky nearby. Arson flew to her quickly and nearly shot passed her body with his lack of aerial control. She wiped tears from her eyes before she yelled at him.


    ¡°We have to find the others!¡±


    ¡°Grab on to my ankle,¡± yelled Arson and the two took off through the clouds in search of their friends.


    By the time they found Jasmine the girl¡¯s makeup was stretched across her face and she seemed only to be able to blubber and whimper, so Troy wrapped her in a free arm and they continued on with an increased descent speed.


    Troy sighted Khalif in the distance and the boy seemed to be in acceptance of his situation entirely. In a nose dive, closed eyes and a huge smile. It was then that Arson found the passed out and blood soaked Rob being held aloft by Lane. She also seemed to be blood soaked and Arson couldn¡¯t tell which of the two was more injured.


    Lane¡¯s cloud only slowed their fall, and seemed to be barely manifested in its wielder¡¯s current state. Arson shot toward them and Troy made Lane grab onto her ankle.


    Arson then made his way toward Khalif and his words surprised Arson.


    ¡°My ancestor supposedly ruled the sky itself, yet I only feel alive within the shadows, I truly wonder if I am broken!¡±


    ¡°We are all broken, brother, but the pieces of our puzzled lives create a masterpiece, now grab onto my other ankle, we have to find Xani!¡± Arson could only smile at the shocked look on Khalif¡¯s face, before he was forced to once again double his speed. He slowed slightly when Jasmine began to cry once more, but then he saw her.


    Xani was unconscious and still in a spin, and Arson realized he may not be fast enough to¡­


    He shook his head and lifted his hood. Light filled his body and he once again double his speed.


    His perception of time was pushed to its absolute slowest and he reached out an arm.


    ¡°Xani!¡± Arson grabbed the young woman¡¯s limp form from the air at the exact same moment as they collided with the tree line.


    Arson did his best to wrap up Xani and even more light filled Arson¡¯s body as Troy lit up like the sun behind him.


    The two roared in defiance as the trees abused and bruised them. They burst through the edge of the dense forrest and almost immediately smashed into a small body of water. The small waterfall near the festival grounds led into a beautiful lake and river.


    The group of Builders and the leader of BlackHole pierced through the water like an arrow and they were all submerged. Arson was barely able to slow them down by the time they neared the shoreline.


    He¡¯d been more worried that his friends wouldn¡¯t be able to hang on through the trip, but he rose from the water to find all of them, the only thing connecting them, the death grips they¡¯d committed to during their descent. Now only slightly more damaged than they had been after the explosion.


    Arson turned around when he felt eyes on his back, and found many people now stared at him. One presence felt above all.


    A figure floated above the festival grounds with flames that pored from their hands and feet. The robe they wore was symbolic and made for both the enhancement of spell casting and martial arts. Runes lined the black and red clothing, and their hood left their face as unknown as Arson¡¯s own.


    Arson pointed at the figure and the crowd at the festival grounds erupted into cheers.


    The figure pointed back and unknowingly to Arson, a rivalry of siblings was born anew.


    ¡°¡±I will be back for you, false king, he who dares hide the crown of the Omni as if it is a mark of shame,¡± yelled a fiercely angered, yet obviously feminine voice.


    ¡°Who said I was going to let you leave here alive!¡± Arson pulled down his cowl over his face and his bird like dragon mask twisted into place and he roared. Everything shook with his rage, yet before he could move, a hand landed on his shoulder.


    Arson looked up to see a dread headed man with a crown on his head. His eyes were as unfocused as any other blind person Arson had ever seen, but somehow Arson still felt seen by the man.


    The very same man that he only then noticed stood on top of the water and made ripples of pressure skim the surface of the small lake. Unlike Jade, this man didn¡¯t hide the overwhelming energy the Aura of a Keeper came with, because he¡¯d long been incapable of doing so due to his curse. A curse the man wondered if Arson would experience.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let this happen quite yet, I apologize my son,¡± said the crowned man. Arson felt mana and energy leave his body as the man pulled off Arson¡¯s mask and his hood all in one motion, to reveal his face.


    ¡°What are you doing to me old man, she just tried to kill all of us, I need to stop her from,¡± tried Arson.


    ¡°She will pay for her actions, I promise, my son, but today is a day of celebration, and you have guests to entertain,¡± said the man before he waved at Arson and his friends and disappeared. The figure in the sky also disappeared, and Arson scoffed. When he looked back at his friends he found all of them on a knee.


    ¡°What the sparks are you lot doing, we have work to do,¡± said Arson frustrated.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why you are still alive, bucko, but you are supposed to kneel in the presence of the king,¡± said Lane. Arson looked to Troy who confirmed the question that played out onto Arson¡¯s facial features with a nod.


    ¡°Wait, the dread head was my dad, King Arsenal,¡± asked Arson.


    ¡°Draphen LightLord Omni, first of his name, conquerer of the 7th realm, owner of the prison planets of the 8th realm,¡± said Xani still dazed from the explosion and landing.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. I was worried that you were hurt because of how much further down you were than everyone else,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Yeah, the explosion happened, and I think I tried to save myself, but couldn¡¯t tell which direction was up momentarily, and smashed head first into the rear of the limo, which I am going to have to seriously upgrade, then I woke up in the water with you roaring like someone slapped Jade and you know the rest, but I am really sorry about the limo boss, I won¡¯t let something like that happen again,¡± apologized Xani. He could see by how disappointed she looked that she really believed all of what had occurred was her fault,, but he quickly attempted to steal the blame before she settled into a self-deprecating mentality.


    ¡°None of this is solely on you. In fact, the majority of this is my lack of leadership. Xani, I should have known that anything we build will be threatened if we lose any of our core members. From here on out, I will make our security and protection a higher priority for you and Khalif to manage together. Don¡¯t worry, we will outgrow and overcome all of these small issues,¡± said Arson. He looked at Rob and Lane who were still huddled together and smiled at the pair who seemed the worse for wear, yet the most excited about being alive after such a dangerous situation.


    ¡°What¡¯s got you two so happy?¡± said Jasmine, still desperate to fix her makeup in the reflection of the water below herself. The girl apparently shared in his confusion at their obvious glee.


    ¡°I¡¯m the sparking cook. I shouldn¡¯t be alive, nor should you. These lot are Cultivators of the highest degree in my mind at least, but what about you, me, and even Lane? We only know basic things about mana and physical improvement, we should count our blessings,¡± said Rob with a laugh.


    ¡°He¡¯s right, but I don¡¯t think you guys are aware of the numbers we are getting for the live stream of the festival. That entrance was horrible to live through, but spectacular promotion!¡± Everyone looked at Lane and Troy began to laugh heartily.


    ¡°What?! I¡¯m just saying¡­ We might run into issues with space, the majority of comments are about getting to the festival grounds ASAP,¡± relayed Lane.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting messages from my runners that we have had to fly in ingredients 7 times already today, boss. I think you were right about us needing to increase internal manufacturing production,¡± said Rob with a few glances at his flatscreen.


    ¡°We might actually sell out of our overstock, Arson. We will definitely need to increase the amount of recycling tables at the dump if we are going to continue to have these festivals and huge sales,¡± said Jasmine. Somehow she¡¯d fixed her makeup and the only thing wet on her body was the bottom of her dress. She¡¯d even begun to heal slightly, not at the same rate as the rest of the cultivators, but still noticeably faster.


    ¡°Arson already increased my budget after I showed him the screens of the festival, but I have plans to increase all production projects almost tenfold after today and what just occurred,¡± said Xani.


    Arson smiled as the others continued to talk at the Shoreside. He had plans for his new enemy that built themselves seemingly on autopilot in the back of his brain, but focused on the festival and the needs of his guild and businesses in the immediate moment.


    ¡°Come on, guys. It¡¯s time to get our hands dirty.¡±

 Chapter 23: Designs & Destinations

    Arson was forced to increase the rate of poisons he accepted into his body. He hadn¡¯t known originally that he only had a single season cycle to achieve a completely tempered foundation before his cells would lock up and no longer accept new basic mana types.


    For him to travel as far down the road of Cultivation as his mother and her peers, he had many elements left to experience.


    Shadow, water, light, gravity, air, and what he now knew to be an ancient representation of time, as well as creation were still left on his list of untested poisons.


    He planned on a quick completion but knew the way his life changed the odds of a timely finish was low.


    ¡°Ok, Arson, what¡¯s on the list?¡± He read over a task list he¡¯d written on his overlay.


    1. Rename clothing brand.


    2. Open Blackhole brick and mortar.


    3. Buy dilapidated nightclub.


    4. Ask mom to teach me how to cook.


    5. Finish Core.


    6. Raid Augustine¡¯s outer rim base.


    7. Finish poisons.


    By the placement of poisons on his list, he realized that maybe he needed to either complete many of the things above it on the list, or reprioritize his tasks.


    After he thought a while, he moved poisons to second place, with the assumption that he¡¯d easily be able to name his clothing brand, and make poisons his highest priority. With more thought, he summed up the list and took action.


    He dialed his mother on his holo-watch. He could make this list smaller immediately with some courage.


    ¡°Hello, is everything ok, kiddo?¡± His mother¡¯s voice came through the phone and he smiled to himself.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not time for me to run back yet, but I been wanting to ask if we could cook sometime, didn¡¯t want to forget and figured I¡¯d just call,¡± said Arson. He didn¡¯t know why he felt awkward. He just did.


    ¡°Oh, well yes of course we could, you should know better, join us in the kitchen anytime, buddy.¡± Arson¡¯s smile widened and he danced in place for a moment, until he realized he was still dialed in with Jade.


    ¡°Thanks Mom. I¡¯m going to get back to it.¡±


    Arson let the sun set and sat crosslegged until the dump came to life around him. Then he began to attempt a new skill he was still in the middle of the creation process for.


    Arson still hadn¡¯t gained any more skills and abilities from his overlay, and had decided to practice with the things he already had access to.


    A small bead of water began to form at the center of his crown above his head. The manifestation of his internal mana grew with every breath he took and eventually could be seen visibly in a spin.


    Before long an orb of conductive waters imitated a sun above his head and the chaos begun.


    By the time the orb was the size of a basketball, the nearly ten meter long tendrils had begun to lash out at nearby foes. The dense mana of the orb was like the light of a bug zapper to the possessed armor and weapons.


    Arson meditated, and enemies ran at him from all sides. The armors and robots were flung in different directions the moment a tendril made contact.


    Some were strong enough not to be blasted back by the contact of the explosive tendrils, and were instead wrapped up and tossed even further distances.


    Arson focused on his skill and soon tendrils wrapped foes up and smashed them into one another, which caused even more hydraulic explosions.


    Things continued like this for long enough that Arson could focus on other things. He brought up his overlay and went over his options for progression. He was ashamed that he barely ever looked at his overlay, but knew that his use of the powerful tool would change as he grew and it grew.


    When he opened the Cultivation tool, he noticed many changes that he hadn¡¯t before. Both in his personal characteristics displayed, and even his previously given info.


    Name: Sovereign Arson Omni. Level: 0.1. Class: Unchosen. Race: Variant Creator. Bloodline: Heir of Omnipotence. Profession: Unchosen/Variant Builder. What the sparks is Omnipotence, read Arson to himself.


    He didn¡¯t know what most of the things on his screen were and now immediately regretted his actions.


    ¡°Am I going to have to check this every sparking day?¡± The question was rhetorical and Arson knew it. Apparently some of the things he¡¯d accomplished in recent days had been new to him, but not new to the realm.


    He read about the beams his eyes could project and learned that they were named Stars of the SunStream. He learned that he¡¯d indeed gained an overcharge ability with his mana called, Storm Overflow.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    He¡¯d even learned that the name of his first Armament had been changed, and now read simply as Cowl & Mask of the Sun Tomes.


    Apparently when his hood was up, it could analyze his environment and even individual items. His mask had the alternate ability to further increase his perception during combat. As well as note potential weaknesses and even drink energy attacks aimed at his head.


    He read more and then began to look over his overwhelming number of stat points. Dare he admit it to himself that he was afraid to spend a single point incorrectly and hadn¡¯t spent a single point since he¡¯d unlocked his cowl.


    Nothing seemed normal about how he grew in power. He knew why he¡¯d grown as a fighter. He wouldn¡¯t have been able to contend with the Demon if he hadn¡¯t been trained by Jade. Nor would he have won if he hadn¡¯t fought nearly seven versus one every day while he trained.


    He pushed himself so his rapid growth made sense. Martial combat made sense to him. It was his magic that he feared.


    Lane had sent him dozens of captured videos of his night club rampage, and most of them surprised him. He didn¡¯t feel strong, but people felt otherwise.


    The comments that the videos Lane sent him made him feel like the villain of some movie. Even his fans commented on his actions and his crew like their direct interaction with society would be the cause of the realm¡¯s end.


    Due to how uncontrollable he felt under the effects of his power, he was in line to believe that Uni-Vare and mana could actually corrupt all they touched.


    He hadn¡¯t wanted to believe that all Cultivators at the top either had to overcome an inner corruption, or be overwhelmed by god-like abilities, but was now frightened by the potential of the outcome in his own life.


    He didn¡¯t want to lose what made him Arson, but sensed he already had somehow. He just needed those changes to remain positive.


    He turned his thoughts and focus toward his soul and was once again surprised by the changes and didn¡¯t know what to think. The sun that filled his soul space, now shifted in a swirl of many energies. The colors were deep and rich as they reflected the stars in their various shades. Arson smiled at the beautiful sight.


    Was it the poisons of various elements? Or maybe it was how he trained with mana? He was no entirely sure.


    He wanted to be the genius that everyone thought him to be. He wanted to be more than he was currently, and didn¡¯t want to let anything get in his way. These thoughts alone filled his mind with images of his assumed barriers.


    The image of 11 wands flickered through first. Followed by an aerial view of the dump. Then his friends as they stood in front of their completed warehouse.


    Many things fought for priority in his mind. Yet he calmed himself and returned his entire focus to his skills creation.


    He opened his eyes and in the same moment made a decision. He would become worthy of the gifts granted by his bloodline; no matter how good or bad, strong or weak, anyone felt he was, he would find what it was to be himself within the realm.


    The storm within the sun shaped orb of conductive waters above Arson had grown to be the size of a large wrecking ball.


    It swirled dangerously with every tendril created. More and more enemies stormed toward Arson as he was forced to turn up the intensity of the skill.


    ¡°This is not my end!¡± Arson roared as he put everything he had into the skill momentarily. The explosions the tendrils produced on contact with any surface in that moment blew apart many creatures simultaneously.


    A wave of destruction bloomed outward in a circle and Arson rose to his feet.


    The few that managed to make it pass the tendrils were obliterated by Arson himself as more conductive water orbs left his fingertips. Mana rushed into his body with every kill, yet he could still see a direct decline in the resource within his overlay.


    He¡¯d been challenged by his mother to stress his body¡¯s use of mana as much as possible.


    She¡¯d already shown him in their training exactly how little of the resource he actually used. He didn¡¯t have a large mana pool, just an incredibly high regeneration rate and vampiric skillset to fall back on.


    ¡°The mighty are shown what it is to be greater by things far impressive than themselves,¡± quoted Arson. His mother¡¯s words fueled him with an inspiration he¡¯d never felt prior to their conversations.


    Even as he fought through the horde of enemies that surrounded him he thought about how much he¡¯d grown because of Jade¡¯s seemingly fathomless acceptance of Arson in her life.


    He wanted to make her life better in any way he could. For that, he needed the ability to protect his friends, as their bond and the love he felt from Jade was irreplaceable. Nothing had made him feel better in his life thus far.


    Then a group of olympian armors entered the area and things grew even more hectic. The new skill he developed seemed to sense the threat levels of the armors and focus-fired its tendrils. The destruction made Arson¡¯s eyes go wide and he lifted off the ground. He thanked Xani everyday for the lessons in flight, and now used the skill to make a tactical retreat.


    The olympian armors seemed to be unaffected by his current power and charged toward him like a pack of viking berserkers.


    Arson dismissed his new skill and took flight toward the first dominion of magic. He was forced to fight the entire way there as his earlier actions had stirred a metaphorical bees nest of relic armors. Equipment that should have been inherited by descendants of the mighty Cultivators of the past.


    Instead they were left behind to hone the skills of a handful of youths each night.


    Arson also wanted to honor the grounds that led to where he was currently. The place meant for trash, had become a literal gold mine for Arson. The more he improved the land, the more he felt rewarded by his decisions.


    When he landed, 11 wands formed, and Arson chose darkness. He readied himself for anything. His stance wide and his perception slowed.


    Arson exhaled and in that moment two things happened at once. A portal opened beneath his feet made out of his own shadow cast by the seven moons, and the surrounding darkness.


    Arson felt himself begin to fall, but his eyes took in the second oddity around himself.


    For the slightest fraction of a breath, the figures around the wands changed. Creatures of pure nature and elements were revealed behind the men and women that normally showed themselves to be in control of the wands.


    Arson¡¯s heart skipped a beat and the fear froze him for long enough for him to begin to fall end over end into an endless pit of darkness. He gasped as the void around him attempted to fill his lungs with ether.


    He was nearly consumed whole, but then his eyes flared to life. Streams of sunlight pierced the darkness and freed him from the intangible restraints.


    Arson flew with everything he had toward the light above him.


    The light seemed to grow dimmer and more distant, and Arson roared with frustration as he increased his speed tenfold.


    He was once again plagued mentally by images of things he wanted to finish in his life, and nearly gave into the near drowning-like sensation that threatened to consume him.


    ¡°The mighty are shown what it is to be greater by things far more impressive than themselves,¡± quoted Arson once more. He defiantly yelled the words as he tore through the sky above himself. He broke the sound barrier for the first time as he exited the dark portal and into the skies above the dump with a whoop.


    ¡°Yeah!!!¡± Arson¡¯s yell of exhilaration stretched across the sky as he tore toward the warehouse near the dump¡¯s entrance. Unknown to Arson, a man watched the results of his poisoning nearby. Seneschal, was a very dangerous man, and reported to someone Arson would never suspect to be watching him.


    ¡°My Lord, you may have an issue on your hands,¡± said the man into the computer chip implanted in his ear.


    ¡°What kind of issue could my younger brother truly give me,¡± said the voice. The words vibrated into the man¡¯s inner ear softly.


    ¡°We have a saying where your parents and I come from, it¡¯s normally said to Cultivators without any apparent weaknesses or limits,¡± said Seneschal.


    ¡°And what exactly is this turn of phrase that is so unique that you feel the need to share it here¡­¡± Seneschal knew his master was irritated, and the young man only wanted the drone designs that Arson¡¯s lead engineer developed and had sent him to acquire them.


    This would normally be a simple task for a man of Seneschal¡¯s skills, but the task only grew more difficult by the day. The group Blackhole, was completely focused, and their aims were directed at their own weaknesses.


    May that be their physical body, their professional skills and manners, or even their most basic mental development, they were on the verge of unstoppability.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t kill the parent, kill the child before they too block your path to godhood.¡±

 Chapter 24: Sparks…

    Arson and Troy stood, both in a deep squat. The boulders above their heads weighed multiple tons, and their sweat soaked bodies didn¡¯t help them hold up the oddly shaped rocks.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to beat me, kid, I¡¯ve been a Cultivator far too long to lose to you just because you don¡¯t sleep,¡± said Troy with a grunt. Arson only smiled. He knew she was right, he wasn¡¯t going to last much longer, but he had no plans of defeat. So instead he remained silent and focused.


    They¡¯d been frozen in place, deep in concentration, for most of the morning. The others had long given up on the contest and Arson wasn¡¯t the type to give up, nor was Troy.


    So when Jade told the group that the winner would receive a new skill taught to them by his mother, Arson gave himself no other option but to win.


    The others were older and had much longer to gather powerful skills and abilities. If they hadn¡¯t, they were either lazy, or too ignorant to accept external help; two things Arson refused to be the poster child for.


    ¡°By the sparks of the midnight realms, Arson, give up!¡± Troy had a serious expression on, as both her and Arson¡¯s entire frames begun to shake violently.


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± said Arson with a raised eyebrow. A single drop of sweat rolled off his forehead as his smile toward his friend grew.


    ¡°I refuse to lose to you again, you sparking demonic brat!¡± Arson began to laugh at Troy¡¯s disgruntled face as they both fell to a knee. The mana absorbed by the boulders had reached an all time high for both of the Cultivators, and would only get harder to hold up with every breath that passed between the two.


    Soon afterwards, Arson yawned and closed his eyes. He¡¯d truly nearly come to his body¡¯s limit, and knew he could win if Troy gave up hope. It was her only weakness as far as Arson could tell.


    He made his head slump forward and compressed himself. The level of flexibility shown was an astonishment to witness.


    He brought his feet together with a smooth transition from a kneel to a crouch, and then sat on his ankles. His feet now flattened to stabilize his body and balance the weight evenly.


    Arson laughed to himself when he heard Troy¡¯s sigh. He had flattened himself further with a tucked head between his legs, and he¡¯d even managed to drop his elbows further toward his midsection.


    The boulder stopped completely above Arson. No tremble to be found as Troy began to scream in frustration under the weight of an equally large manna stone. The red boulder grew brighter even as she roared back at it as it shook in her hands.


    She threw it to the ground and nearly attempted to punt it but thought better of it in the middle of her wind up.


    Arson immediately dropped his own boulder as it threatened to crush him entirely and looked up at Troy as he came to his feet with a huge smile; only to catch her pout and sigh before their eyes met and she seemed to perk up.


    ¡°To be honest you had me, I was about dead under that thing, man,¡± said Arson. Troy¡¯s eyes narrowed and then widened.


    ¡°No way, I really almost won that?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, seriously, that was a feint, I had nothing left, have some more faith next time, I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re the strongest person here by far in our training group,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°We saw the new skill, I know you are entering a new realm of power as well, no point in hiding it now, little buddy, and Arson, you gotta be more careful, Lane is good at getting your good side, and I mean like all the time dude, it¡¯s scary, you look like a prince half the time and you¡¯re surrounded by trash heaps, if you¡¯re going to hide something, do it somewhere Lane can¡¯t get aerial shots from any and every angle,¡± said Troy with a laugh.


    ¡°What the sparks, is that why I keep getting request for people to come train in the dump with me on my holo-watch?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll ignore that you were obviously on the edge of a dangerous zone in that video and you were still able to hold your own pretty well,¡± said Troy with a direct stare.


    ¡°Whatever. You¡¯re already training in a blue zone, I can feel it, it¡¯s the only way that you could have beat the Demon last night the way you did,¡± said Arson. The rematch had been brutal to the point that Arson didn¡¯t finish the fight, and instead had waited for Troy in the locker room.


    ¡°Yeah, but all people are saying today is that, the Demon really must be afraid to get beat up by Sovereign again to take such a disgraceful loss to the Queen of Troy¡­¡±


    ¡°We both know you could beat him easy now so why does it matter? Aim higher, I¡¯m sorry if I ruined that victory for you somehow, but how would you have reacted if it were any of the Builders with a hole in their chest and you saw it?¡± The question was weighted and Arson knew it, but he didn¡¯t know what else to say, as he truly didn¡¯t feel bad for his actions toward the Demon.


    ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that if I lose in the future I need you to let me fight to restore my own honor. Many of the others around you will want your protection in that way, but I am here to protect you in that way. We are family now, kid, and you can¡¯t seem to tell how valuable you are. You say I have no faith in me, but how much faith do you have in yourself?¡± Arson froze momentarily. Some questions he didn¡¯t have quick and easy retorts for, and others made him think in a way that even a genius mind ran from. The things they feared the most.


    ¡°Other than the festival, what have I really done but destroy things, spark up trouble and bring you all along with me. At this point, I feel like an angry little kid in the captain seat of a very large plane with a lot of passengers, and they¡¯re all excited that I¡¯ve planned on us not landing safely.¡± Arson pushed down the anger that bubbled up in his chest as he and Troy ran back for dinner.


    ¡°You¡¯re about to buy a nightclub if this meeting goes well, and who knows what you have planned for it,¡± said Troy. Arson cut in and didn¡¯t let her wonder long.


    ¡°Mini mall on the first floor, build second floor, make better nightclub, Thinking about calling it Blackhole Coliseum,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°See, those are impressive things for a person your age, kid,¡± said Troy. Arson stopped.


    ¡°You know I thought that too, but then I researched my sparking parents, one has conquered multiple realms of existence, and the only person strong enough to beat him, you¡¯ll never guess who that is,¡± said Arson sarcastically.


    ¡°Jade beat the King?¡± asked Troy.


    ¡°Apparently you don¡¯t know the history either, huh? Well to put it simply, the realms are in an age of peace because my parents both in blood and adopted relation, fought to control all of the realms at some point long ago, and Jade won.¡±


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°I feel like there has to be a lot more to that story,¡± said Troy as they began to run again.


    ¡°Most likely, but most records of history during that time period are both impossible to find without a incredible hacking ability, social or economic tie to a knowledge Keeper, or would have had to been alive then to still have documented anything from the period.¡±


    ¡°Well how the sparks do you know any of this then,¡± asked Troy.


    ¡°Technically, my mom is the biggest knowledge Keeper of them all, we might as well be standing in the greatest domain of knowledge there is. I mean think about it, trash is dumped here from all the realms combined, it¡¯s just disorganized,¡± said Arson with a smile. Troy looked around at the dump in an entirely new light, and she smiled.


    ¡°That still doesn¡¯t answer my question though, buddy. How do you know?¡± Arson rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Found this database on my watch and I can pretty much ask it any question I want. It sometimes doesn¡¯t have the answer, mostly when its about personal stuff, but otherwise it seems to have me covered,¡± said Arson. He loved the first item he¡¯d ever bought from Jade¡­which reminded him that he had over 100 mana cores to give her on his return.


    They arrived with a few moments to spare before their guest knocked. Arson turned back to open the door for Mr. Kim and his men.


    Arson had already met Seven, but the others were nameless as far as he knew, except for Mr. Kim who stood incredibly tall at their center.


    The man was wider than the table at the orphanage, and Arson felt an odd pressure on his mind as the group entered the home.


    ¡°Of course the inside is larger than the outside would ever reveal,,¡± said Mr. Kim as he appraised his environment from top to bottom.


    ¡°You can only imagine what Anna thought to teach me, and my mother was one of the strongest gravity Cultivators to ever live,¡± said Jade. She¡¯d appeared from what Arson believed had to have been thin air. Some sort of teleport maybe? He was unsure.


    He had no clue exactly how fast his mother was, as even Troy still couldn¡¯t manage to strike the woman. Or even make her move.


    Arson had been forced to figure out ways to successfully annoy his mother into movement when they trained, which further astonished his friends. He had a drive to be the strongest and would eke out every victory he could. No matter how small or large it may seem.


    Not like I¡¯m ever going to actually hit her, not even sure I could hit Troy anymore?


    His mother definitely still took things easy on him, and his friends. Keepers were normally incredibly powerful, and had reached realms of power that Arson could only imagine, and now he was supposed to negotiate easily with one such person.


    ¡°Hello Mr. Kim, so nice of you to join us,¡± said Arson as he attempted to courteously direct their guest to where they¡¯d set the table to dine.


    The group walked away from Arson and his mother, even as they continued to speak at them as if they were barely noticed street beggars.


    ¡°Ana taught you her methods. Wow, that is really a surprise since she has been so secretive,¡± said Mr. Kim. Arson didn¡¯t like the seriousness of his mother¡¯s gaze, nor did he like how he was being ignored. Or how his mother was being spoken to.


    He often saw photos of his mother and the woman he assumed to be her deceased wife. He often wanted to ask Jade about her, but the face of pain she wore every time the woman was brought up gave Arson pause.


    Anastasia Savage apparently designed the entire holo grid that was used by Cultivators currently in power. She was also seen as the mother of modern technology and the founder of the scientific cultivation paths.


    Arson had an inkling that the AI in his watch that he wasn¡¯t supposed to use, had been left behind by his mother¡¯s dead wife. A fact that only made him love his watch that much more.


    ¡°Mom, is there something I should be aware of?¡± Jade¡¯s gaze shot toward Arson, and he was surprised by the obvious rage she couldn¡¯t hide in her facial features. She looked away in seeming shame, and took a deep breath.


    ¡°My dead wife isn¡¯t why you are here, Kim, and if it is, then you should probably leave, as I don¡¯t have time for your sparking HonorBorn games, nor will I allow my child to play them,¡± said Jade. Mr. Kim nodded and smiled as he turned to face Jade.


    ¡°Ahh, you couldn¡¯t have expected me to finally be able to enter your home and not give you any kind of hassle,¡± said Mr. Kim. Seven stared only at Arson from his boss¡¯s side. While Arson felt momentarily bad for doing to Mr. Kim¡¯s men what the man did to him, he couldn¡¯t help but fume at the disrespect.


    Arson had quickly grown used to his friends and mother¡¯s treatment of him which left him slightly off-balanced as he tried to create a strong professional reputation, all while still only being seven season cycles old.


    It was then that Arson realized, he wasn¡¯t as weak as he thought himself to be. Things around him had changed so rapidly that he was nearly unaware of the impact his actions had on those close to him. As well as those whom he¡¯d never even met.


    ¡°Hey Seven, this dude knows I¡¯ll do a lot worse than bang up his nightclub if he keeps ignoring me, right?¡± said Arson with a side eyed glance toward Seven. Seven nodded and Troy giggled.


    ¡°And why exactly would I waste my own time talking with the orphaned runt of the Archons,¡± said Mr. Kim. Arson smiled as the man spoke to him truly for the first time.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see, your entire territory is in criminal based sectors of Maelstrom, I¡¯m connected to nearly all orphans from here to the other side of the city, which means that your runners, and practically any other job you burnt out spark plugs don¡¯t want to do that gets pushed off onto us normally, won¡¯t happen, in fact I¡¯m so childish I¡¯d rather pay them not to work for you, just to show you how far reaching the work of us street kids really is,¡± said Arson. Mr. Kim began to laugh abruptly.


    ¡°You really think that a few orphans could really bother me of all people,¡± stated the man full of blatant condescension.


    ¡°Jasmine¡­,¡± said Arson simply.


    ¡°Yes Lord Sovereign,¡± responded Jasmine from behind Arson.


    ¡°How long would it take for you to contract all orphans in Mr. Kim¡¯s employ and make them the new workforce for the BlackHole brick and Mortar we are about to finish,¡± asked Arson. He and Mr. Kim were still locked in a stare that quieted the room as their conversation continued.


    Mr. Kim was the type of person to believe he was untouchable. What Arson knew that Mr. Kim didn¡¯t, was that 33% of his entire workforce were actually orphans, and the loss of them all would cripple the man¡¯s businesses if what Arson planned actually occurred.


    Arson had originally planned to pay Mr. Kim a huge contract fee to use the orphans in his employ, but after only a few moments in the Keeper¡¯s presence, he wanted to cripple the man¡¯s everything.


    Was that petty, maybe¡­ but Arson didn¡¯t care. No one would talk to his mother any kind of way, not even Arson himself.


    ¡°Mr. Kim, if I may, we make more money off the underpaid brats from the Maelstrom Orphanage and their satellite locations than practically any other association in the city, I don¡¯t know that we would be able to handle the loss of-¡± started Seven.


    ¡°Bah, this devil spawn can have every orphan in the city work for him, it won¡¯t change the fact that my son is going to kill him off at the first chance he gets in the tournament of Scions, and to think your mother got you into Adroit Academy where the rest of the HonorBorn noble children go. I¡¯d rather die than have you grace the halls of my¡­¡± started Mr. Kim. The man continued to ramble and Arson shared a look with his mom. Jade smiled at him and Arson nodded back.


    Arson didn¡¯t know he¡¯d actually gotten into Adroit. He¡¯d only taken the entrance exam as a joke. It was the most expensive school in the realm. For Arson to be accepted was a claim beyond being rich, as to get into one of the most prestigious academies in known creation, talent was also a requirement.


    ¡°It seems we don¡¯t have any business to speak on further, I¡¯ve paid the damages already for the Mana Well, and if you don¡¯t plan on selling it to me, I¡¯d prefer it if you left,¡± stated Arson as he continued to stare down the now red-faced man.


    ¡°Seven, give the child the sales contract, I¡¯d prefer to be rid of the club and never have to experience dealing with bottom feeders in my life again,¡± said Mr. Kim with a look toward Jade. Arson¡¯s eyes begun to fill with power and the stars within began to revolve.


    A chime fluttered through the air as Arson¡¯s holo-watch rang with the notification for a received contract. Arson sent the contract to Xani, and had his watch scan for factors within the document that would be negative for his business¡¯ continued growth.


    Mr. Kim and his men left, and Arson fumed as he paced. He wanted to set the club on fire after a single meeting with Mr. Kim and didn¡¯t know how Jasmine had gotten along with the man until he remembered she¡¯d never met him personally.


    ¡°How did you manage to work for that spark plug for so long?¡± asked Arson over a bite of food. His mood still not changed even after the sun had set and the contract had been paid.


    ¡°His assistants are much nicer than him, and honestly it seems like the only other Keeper in Maelstrom that gets along with Jade is Almarine, and even that I am unsure of,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°Your mom pissed off a lot of people coming up in her younger days,¡± said Xani with a smile.


    ¡°A lot of people or everybody?¡± asked Arson. Xani and Jasmine looked at one another before they both responded at once.


    ¡°Everybody.¡±


    Arson rolled his eyes. He didn¡¯t believe his mother could have angered everyone he would have to interact with in Maelstrom as he grew up and tried to grow his ventures, but he¡¯d been wrong before and would be again.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter now. We have a lot of work to do and I doubt that the way I just handled business with Mr. Kim is going to make that any easier,¡± said Arson. He regretted how quickly his anger could make a situation more difficult, but he knew that the personalities of Cultivators would only become more and more abrasive the stronger he himself became. No one wanted real competition and even fewer would see the true threat that he was, until they either wanted him gone or dead.


    ¡°Nope, but we can always add a raid on Mr. Kim if you want,¡± asked Khalif excitedly. Arson thought to himself for a moment before he nodded once more.


    ¡°Looks like our short list of friends just got that much shorter.¡±


    It was then that Jade spoke up for the first time since Mr. Kim left, and Arson struggled not to get angry once more at the sadness he heard in his mother¡¯s question.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you got into Adroit Academy, you know how dangerous that place is, I told you so many times how often I almost lost my life there as a child,¡± stated Jade as her eyes filled with tears. A sight that stole the rage from his chest.


    ¡°I want to be just as good as you, I can¡¯t get there without a real challenge, Mom,¡± said Arson without the knowledge of what his own mother had planned for him. A plan she put into place to get him ready for the next step. Yet, he¡¯d managed to put himself in a much more dangerous position, and he didn¡¯t even know it yet.


    ¡°We shall see what you decide in the end¡­¡±

 Chapter 25: Rats

    Arson had never committed a raid. He wasn¡¯t a part of the Junior Graves, and he found it odd that his supposed criminal mother wanted him to join.


    Apparently her mother had once led Graveyard, the law enforcement agency which his mother felt still hadn¡¯t recovered from his grandmother¡¯s death.


    Arson didn¡¯t feel aligned with the goals of the young HonorBorn youths he saw on television that were a part of the Junior Graves. Not that he wanted to be a gang leader, more an untouchable merchant and crafter.


    He hadn¡¯t spent much time tinkering as he once did before he¡¯d gained access to a Cultivation core, but Xani had already requested that he join her and the Bookish for a few crafting sessions and Arson had accepted quickly.


    He was excited to see what he would be able to create with time. Under Xani¡¯s direction, and from what his holo-watch had stored internally, he had some major ideas to test and develop.


    He had plans to rebuild a weapon lost to his family. He wanted to create a better way to use the basic spacial magic that he could access to optimize space for Blackhole stores. As well as be able to craft an entirely new technique. An enormous trial that he¡¯d already begun to undertake.


    Regardless of all his academic plans, he found himself on the roof of his nightclub, moments away from a trial raid on a group of orphans that refused to stop work for Mr. Kim. Arson would change that.


    ¡°You sure you want to go alone? All of us are ready, boss,¡± said Khalif behind Arson.


    ¡°No, I need to get a feel for something like this anyway, corporate raids are said to be beyond dangerous,¡± replied Arson.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. You want to corporate raid one day,¡± asked Khalif. Arson merely nodded. Then jumped off the roof.


    A thunderclap was heard when Arson broke through the sound barrier and tore through the night sky. He¡¯d pushed his flight speed as far as he could but knew he was far from fast aerially compared to many Cultivators. Regardless of his own lack of faith in his speed, he closed the distance in a breath.


    Arson swooped low into an alleyway when he was only a dozen or so buildings from his target. From what he¡¯d learned from his mother he needed to police the area.


    Find any and all scouts or lookouts. Ensure that any patrol¡¯s patterns were disrupted as much as possible. All without being discovered as an infiltrator.


    Arson lifted his cowled hood and was surprised when shadows draped his upper torso. He was shocked to witness in the reflection of a nearby store¡¯s window, a pitch black mask fill with stars as they spun to life in a vortex across his face.


    He immediately wondered if his cowl and mask changed based on his needs? None of his face could be seen. Even less than when his normally illuminatedrainbow like facial features were disguised by his cowl,underneath his current hood nothing could be seen but the dark of night and a twist of stars.


    ¡°Well that is cool.¡± His voice was deep and completely unrecognizable. The closer he got to his own reflection the more he noticed how the dark drank in his upper torso and made it appear to be intangible.


    ¡°I think I can use this to my benefit,¡± said Arson. He dropped into a crouch similar to how he¡¯d seen Khalif move.


    When Arson had been even younger, he would try and scare the older boy, as Khalif had often done from the shadows of the orphanage. Arson had never been successful, but he¡¯d at least come close. Close enough that he now knew how and when to move in the dark to remain unnoticed.


    Arson climbed the closest building and began his scout hunt. He was climbing rather than flying around, as a recommendation from his mother.


    She believed the air was the kingdom of magic, and the ground was the kingdom of martial skills. She¡¯d even mentioned a few blundered jobs that resulted directly when she was learning how to fly. Arson smiled beneath his cowl at the thought of the stories and pulled himself onto a fire escape. A young man stood unaware of Arson¡¯s approach as he looked at the streets below. Arson silently took a knee behind the man and listened as the young man spoke through a flatscreen.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s silent as always boss. Ain¡¯t nobody gettin¡¯ through all the traps that line the streets between our border and here anyway, I keep telling Micro that we need those damn drones the Automaton is putting out. We don¡¯t know how many of our enemies fly pass our what three aerial scouts at night. That is our only problem. Everywhere else is locked up tight,¡± said the young man. Arson wondered how high up in the ranks this guy was after what he¡¯d heard him speak about. Most low ranking members of an organization weren¡¯t always aware of their group¡¯s weaknesses, but maybe this street gang operated differently?


    Arson looked around momentarily, and took in the lavish apartment behind him that the young man seemed to either, live in, guard, or both.


    ¡°Why are you so sure that no one could make it through your traps?¡± Arson climbed down and made his way toward an adjacent set of rooftops. Before he knew it he stood above an area saturated with different types of mana. The different patrols all seemed to stay away from the heavy mana dense areas, which wasn¡¯t odd for Arson to understand, because the higher mana areas of the dump were deadly. Even worse was the Junkyard that Jade, and even now Xani had warned Arson to stay away from.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Jade feared Arson would be killed by something too powerful for him to handle at this stage of his development. While Xani and her Bookish group could barely approach the barriers and edges of the junkyard before they were swarmed by robotic creatures, the Bookish had managed to gather a lot of what Xani wanted to further her own plans and designs, but there were tasks Arson wanted to do that couldn¡¯t be achieved without being able to delve deeper.


    ¡°Could this gang really only have one perimeter weakness,¡± asked Arson to himself. Then he got an idea and begun to look through his inventory and found what he needed in a breath.


    Arson pointed his palm out toward the highest density area, and began to pore out mana stones into the street below. Multi colored orbs filled with various energies and levels of stored power rolled in every direction. The mana twisted chaotically around the orbs, yet none of the traps Arson assumed were there ended up triggered. Yet what he wanted to happen, still occurred regardless.


    ¡°What the sparks, Yo, is that mana stones,,¡± said a young woman as she tore away from her group and directly toward the stones.


    Arson had dropped hundreds of stones. Jade no longer needed the lowest tear of stones as Arson brought her much higher quality stones, and so did Troy. This left his inventory jam packed with unnecessary amounts of stones he used for various projects¡­ and now a trap of his own.


    Arson took in a deep breath as the young woman raced right toward the nearest mana stone, before a yell went out behind her. She stopped in her tracks entirely and looked back at the voice.


    A young man approached slowly, and pointed at a nearly unseen white line that divided the street in front of the young woman.


    ¡°They¡¯re in the trap line, they¡¯re probably not even real. Micro probably figured out some sort of simulation to make the traps better. Come on, we have to get back to patrols,¡± said the young man, but before Arson lost his opportunity, he shot a grape sized conductive water¡¯s orb at the nearest cluster of stones as the two turned to move. The sound of the orbs sounded like wind chimes as they bounced off one another, and the young girl was hit in the leg by an orb. She froze and so did the young man.


    They both stared wide eyed at the orb at their feet. Then looked back at the near thousand orbs scattered in the streets around them.


    ¡°Hey, wasn¡¯t there a mana stone cargo dropped from the sky last summer over in Aspire,¡± asked the girl, who still hadn¡¯t looked away from the stone at her feet. The young man only nodded, also unable to look away from the stone.


    ¡°Yeah, a fight broke out on a plane and the entire ship exploded, sent luxury goods flying all over the city,¡± said the young man.


    ¡°What are the odds of something like that happening in Maelstrom,¡± asked the young woman.


    ¡°Probably higher, we don¡¯t have air traffic control for our upper stratosphere, which is the main reason why we are still known as a criminal nation,¡± said the young man. The girl nodded and picked up the stone at her feet with a gasp.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s real,¡± whispered Arson on a nearby rooftop. Then the rest of the patrol joined them and more gasps of amazement could be heard.


    It was then that Arson knew he¡¯d successfully done one of his three primary objectives, and crossed ¡°distract patrols¡± off his mental list.


    By the time Arson made it back to the fire-escape, he couldn¡¯t help but grin.


    ¡°What do you mean half the patrols are hunting for sparking mana stones at the borders,¡± yelled the young man in frustration.


    ¡°What kind of idiots would risk entering the trap lines for mana stones?¡± Arson kneeled behind the young man once more and continued to listen.


    ¡°How many stones¡­ and we know they¡¯re real?¡± asked the young man as he jumped off the fire escape and sped through the night below Arson.


    ¡°Anastasia, scan for alarms and disable any that you can. If the system is too encrypted, just let me know and I will find another way in,¡± said Arson to his holo-watch just before he touched the windowsill for the lavish apartment.


    ¡°Apartment unlocked, home of Randy EagleEye, scout leader for the Wretches of Maelstrom infiltration completed, further commands needed,¡± said the sweet voice that accompanied the AI he wasn¡¯t supposed to use.


    ¡°Thank you Anastasia, let me know if I have any incoming, please and thank you,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Security system for Randy EagleEye enabled, would you like me to trigger the offense/defense protocols?¡± Arson froze, then shrugged.


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± said Arson and he continued on throughout the apartment. It didn¡¯t take him long to find a room full of screens filled with various camera points and angles of the city abroad.


    The screens flickered with random datapoints collected by Randy or his scouts. Arson had apparently hit the jackpot on his first attempt to find the lookout for the Wretches.


    He learned that Randy had taken over the position recently from a woman named Micro, and that his normally very perceptive eyes were undergoing an evolution of sorts that left Randy nearly blind. Which explained why he hadn¡¯t seen Arson approach.


    ¡°Well looks like you¡¯re not a super spy, Arson,¡± mumbled Arson to himself as he flicked through the camera channels to find the street he¡¯d left all the mana stones.


    Chaos had solidified in the area and what seemed like hundreds of the Wretches flooded the street.


    Young men and women tried their best to enter the trapped area of their gang territory, only to be flung around by gravity explosions; electrified by hidden trigger plates, and even sniped at with turret based Gatling guns, hidden in nearby windows.


    ¡°I see why they felt so confident,¡± said Arson as he continued to look for their base¡¯s primary location. It wasn¡¯t at the center as he¡¯d assumed it would be and after a while, he nearly gave up.


    ¡°Where are the sparking rats hiding, in the sewers or something¡­¡± Then it struck Arson. How many of the patrols disappeared from cameras to reappear on cameras positioned far away from their original positions.


    ¡°They are using the sparking sewers¡­¡± It was the only thing that made sense. Arson asked Anastasia to pull up the sewer grid for the city and a projection of holograms filled the area above his watch screen. When he asked her to project the map of the city above the grid projection, he wasn¡¯t surprised to see where the patrols disappeared and reemerged, lined up perfectly with the sewer tunnels that couldn¡¯t be seen above ground.


    ¡°How much do you want to bet the wretches main compound is underground in the sewer system, Anastasia,¡± asked Arson playfully, as he assumed the AI wouldn¡¯t nor could it answer a question of that nature. Only to be surprised once more at the AI¡¯s capabilities.


    ¡°Nothing, as my parameters wouldn¡¯t allow for me to place such a bad bet, Arson. With the information gathered here, I place the odds of your assumption being nearly 85% possible.¡±


    Arson merely looked at his watch momentarily before he shook his head astonished. Then Anastasia alerted him to Randy¡¯s return and Arson attempted to make a quick exit, only to be further shocked by what occurred the moment Randy entered his apartment.


    ¡°System alarm triggered, Defense grid online.¡± The robotic voice filled the entire apartment and Arson watched from the now hacked security system Randy controlled as he exited.


    A grid of lasers began to destroy the apartment as Randy panicked and rushed through the area, completely caught off guard.


    ¡°What the sparks!¡± Randy screamed as he dove behind his own couch only to be nearly severed in half by a Laser beam.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to sparking kill you, Micro. This place is supposed to be offline!¡±


    Arson looked at his watch and tilted his head at the device as a woman¡¯s face smiled back at Arson before it disappeared.


    ¡°Well¡­ this could be trouble.¡±

 Chapter 26: Underwater

    Arson knew he was being followed. He could feel eyes on him. It was the oddest sensation that made his skin prickle.


    He¡¯d been under the assumption that someone had been following him for a while. As he constantly felt a strange sense of alarm that he couldn¡¯t escape, that had now been intensified further.


    He couldn¡¯t tell if he sensed a killing intent, or an aura, but for some reason he felt that he would be able to eventually tell where the presence was located.


    He walked through the sewers in a crouch. He¡¯d already come across a few of the Wretches patrols, but had managed to easily sneak by under his cowl¡¯s darkness. Until he¡¯d found the entrance to the Wretches base, and had somehow managed to be seen. One of the two gang members left to guard the base¡¯s entrance saw glimmers of something in the dark.


    ¡°I swear Delano, I saw something rush pass, and it didn¡¯t look right man, thing looked like a sparking demon, bra,¡± said one of the two guards in a frightened whisper.


    ¡°It was probably one of the boss¡¯ shadows. You know how fast those sparkers move through the tunnels at night dude. Just calm down.¡± Arson listened in from the corner only fifty yards from the pair. He grew frantic at the energy he could feel that approached from where he¡¯d come from, as well as the two voices that began to come closer.


    ¡°If I go down here and a scout leader scares the sparks out of my soul I¡¯m going to kill you, Barlow, I swear by the Maidens,¡± started the guard. Only Arson¡¯s hand crested the corner and a hologram of what could be seen down the sewer tunnel appeared above his watch. The pair froze at the sight of themselves, and Arson made his move.


    He¡¯d liked the small form of the conductive water orb he¡¯d used earlier and now summoned two instead of one. The two orbs rolled in his palms and the two guards tried to turn and run, but Anastasia made the pair easy targets, as twin laser points showed Arson where to aim even without a single glance around the corner.


    Both guards were taken off their feet as sniper-like rounds struck them in the back of their skulls hard enough to knock them unconscious. Arson rushed forward and caught both before they could strike the floor. Without an obvious place to hide the bodies of the sleeping young men, he decided that his newest experiment may work, and went for it.


    He¡¯d been interested in how his mother¡¯s power worked and after one of their many conversations, Arson had an idea. A small box able to transform any of its six faces into a malleable gateway.


    The new door created had been linked to a rundown building Arson had both bought, and slowly worked to have reconstructed within an inter-dimensional space held within the cube. A space he would now use.


    He pulled out the small cube, that contained an entire apartment building within its interior, and slid the two into the front door of the building.


    It only took a moment to activate the cube, stretch open the portal mouth that replaced one of the cubes exterior faces, and drop them in. Arson was a breath away from a clean escape, when he heard another voice.


    ¡°You sure boss hasn¡¯t done this before Khalif, he seems pretty good at it,¡± said a familiar voice.


    ¡°Shut up and hurry, we are going to get left behind if he moves any faster than he already is, and I think something spooked ¡®im,¡± said Khalif. Arson rolled his eyes and slid up against one wall and froze.


    Three figures darted passed Arson and Arson merely grinned as he started to follow Khalif and the two bodyguard trainees he¡¯d picked as lieutenants.


    Arson had apparently grown over the years, and with the assistance of his cowl, seemed to have finally become stealthy enough to sneak up on Khalif.


    The older boy ran as silent as feathers caught in the breeze, but his lieutenants, did not.


    Arson hid his movements in the sounds of their footfalls. The group charged toward what Arson assumed to be an underground town of sorts, but slowed when they were threatened to be seen by any of the gang¡¯s populous.


    There were small buildings in every direction, some used, but most abandoned. Arson felt he had missed something important, because as far as he knew, there wasn¡¯t a city under Maelstrom¡­ was there?


    ¡°What the sparks is this place?¡± asked Khalif, almost to himself. When Anastasia answered from his wrist Arson glared at the watch as the AI¡¯s face appeared to smile at him while it answered.


    ¡°Vivarium, home of the FoxOwls, or at least it was before Zarra ManaMaelstrom was killed. Known as the city of all Orphans, this was once one of the greatest hidden cities in all the realms, it is now seemingly a rundown gang town,¡± said Anastasia. The group in front of Arson turned around in alarm as Arson pulled down his cowl with a glare at Khalif.


    ¡°Hey boss, how did you¡­ never mind, that¡¯s a stupid question, we need to get out of here,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°Why are you here Khalif?¡± asked Arson. Khalif sighed and stared Arson down.


    ¡°You know why, boss. Troy wouldn¡¯t let me stay back at the club with you neck deep in enemy territory, said she¡¯d use me as target practice for her new hard light clones,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t let Lane follow you, did you?¡±


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°What am I, an amateur?¡± retorted Khalif.


    ¡°You ran straight passed me. You letting the trainees slow you down or what,¡± said Arson with a laugh. Khalif only growled.


    ¡°I¡¯m kidding, I know how hard constantly training all the body guards for Blackhole must be. I appreciate you, but I needed to do this on my own for a reason. How can I make sure that I know what I am talking about if we need to strike in the future, especially if you and the others step up to fight all my battles for me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah right, kid, like any of us could stop you from a fight,¡± said Khalif with a smile of his own.


    ¡°Maybe not, but you all barely let me interact with anyone lately. We walk in a room and it¡¯s like you¡¯re waiting for me to pop off, or go crazy, but in all actuality I feel more calm than I ever have before.¡±


    ¡°I hear you, but if you go too far Arson, we lose you, the one person who puts up with our sparked up lives. You¡¯re strong, but there is always someone stronger, you showed me that,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, you¡¯re plenty strong.¡±


    ¡°I am, but I am only growing now because my leader is growing, and If I let you die, what happens to that growth, because let me tell you, I wasn¡¯t going to pull the orphans together like you have, if at all. I was on the fast track to the Assassins Guild and we both know it.¡±


    ¡°Well I¡¯m glad we got you instead, but since you''re here you might as well help,¡± started Arson as he pulled the group of three bodyguards into a nearby empty storefront.


    He discussed his plan to find the leadership of the Wretches, and loved the baffled looks the group gave him.


    Khalif felt as if he¡¯d lost his mind as the others hoped he had just told them a long joke. He only rolled his eyes.


    ¡°What makes you think we can beat up an entire gang Arson, this isn¡¯t a baby group of newbies either, there is like 500 cultivators in there¡­¡±


    ¡°Look, at this point we are wasting time and are probably still being watched,¡± stated Arson. Khalif¡¯s eyes went wide at the casually spoken words, and Arson managed to put a hand over his mouth before the young man could yell whatever he had planned to.


    ¡°I feel as if I can sense an energy, it seems to stay the exact distance away from me, but is always there as if someone watches my every action,¡± said Arson. He removed his hand so that Khalif could speak, and Arson smiled at the frown he wore.


    ¡°So why are we going through with this if you feel like you are being watched?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve actually felt like this for a few days, and believe this is someone else rather than a Wretch. I just had to get that off my chest and Troy is either trying to out-train me or fighting, so you are my next best choice,¡± said Arson with a slap to Khalif¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You know you¡¯re insane, right? Like the real deal looney bin type,¡± responded Khalif.


    ¡°Look, just follow the sparking plan and we¡¯ll be just fine.¡±


    The three body guards passed around unsure glances and eventually all shrugged. So began Arson¡¯s first true raid.


    ¡°Hey, did you see that fight in Port last night,¡± said one guard to another from atop the building¡¯s roof they were designated to scout from.


    ¡°¡±Naw, I don¡¯t mess with anything from the Port of Heaven anymore man, everything is so massive and out of proportion, it just gets hard to-¡± Arson didn¡¯t even let the man finish his sentence. Two compressed orbs shot out and knocked the two unconscious. He stored the bodies in the pocket dimension with the apartment building inside and continued on. As he made his way through the town, he also picked up the bodies that the bodyguards left asleep as well.


    Arson began to admit that Khalif may have been closer to the assassin profession than he¡¯d originally let on. The way some of the bodies were stored and the Wretches members mostly unharmed, yet rendered defenseless, impressed Arson.


    He¡¯d found a full grown man in a cupboard, and wouldn¡¯t have known to look inside if the group hadn¡¯t marked the buildings as they completed them.


    Arson had a little over a hundred of the gang members collected by the time he¡¯d even managed to see Khalif again.


    Only the young man disappeared so quickly Arson couldn¡¯t think of any way he could have checked in. He¡¯d been given orders, and was going to follow them out to his absolute best, a fact about Khalif that Arson loved.


    He knew it would be hard to get people to join his association of Cultivators, but felt he¡¯d lucked out when Khalif took him seriously. It had taken Arson¡¯s rage and the one sided victory against the former ScapeGrace gang, but even that had come with its own repercussion.


    Arson thought it would bother Khalif more when he lost some of his members to the cooks and even Jasmine¡¯s sales teams, but he¡¯d only been happy for his fellow orphans and their new successes.


    Arson again ran into the group of body guards as they brawled with nearly a dozen Wretches in a warehouse. Anastasia had disabled the alarm that had been set off before the signal could be sent out and notified Arson of their general location.


    Arson slowed his perception as much as he could, but knew that his regeneration wasn¡¯t nearly as high without the sun, nor stars above him. So he wouldn¡¯t have long to use the ability before he would need to recharge.


    Three laser sights scanned the room from Arson¡¯s watch and he fired compressed shots as quickly as the beams could make contact with vital points.


    All that could be heard was shattered glass and bodies hitting the floor. Arson didn¡¯t know if he liked the regular or compressed orbs of conductive waters better.


    ¡°Your mother¡¯s calling,¡± said Anastasia before she connected Jade into a call with Arson.


    ¡°Hey bud, I¡¯m surprised you picked up. Is everything ok? I only rang to check on you and thought a call would have you send me a message. You don¡¯t have to answer me on mission,¡± said Jade. Arson grimaced, and scrambled for a response.


    ¡°Uhh, it¡¯s no big deal momma, I¡¯m good just cleaning up the garbage, you know me,¡± said Arson. He slowly pressed his fist to his forehead in shame.


    ¡°Oh yah, you¡¯re too funny sometimes, kiddo. Don¡¯t beat ¡®em up too bad and come by for some food before you run off again, okay?¡± His mother didn¡¯t take no for an answer and hung up. He smiled and rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Khalif says thanks for the save, want me to respond,¡± asked Anastasia.


    ¡°Sure, and could you warn me before you just go and answer calls in the future, please.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir, Lord Sovereign Arson Omni, Sir,¡± said Anastasia in a serious tone before she bursted into laughter. Arson only shook his head and took a deep breath.


    ¡°Come on, we have rats to collect¡­¡±


    After a while the members became harder and harder to find. Arson had collected just over 300 people in the apartment storage? He didn¡¯t know what to call it and decided to leave the name undecided for the moment.


    Then he had an epiphany. He knew what he wanted to name his clothing brand. He pulled up Jasmine¡¯s contact and messaged her from his watch.


    I know what I want to call my clothing brand,¡± said Arson as he typed what he spoke.


    ¡°Oh, maiden, please don¡¯t give me another terrible name buddy. This is a serious matter and will form the opinion of how anyone in the fashion industry looks at us,¡± read Arson.


    ¡°Way to take the wind out of my sails, Jasmine,¡± said Arson to himself. He ignored her and explained his choice, before he revealed it.


    ¡°My mom said it once and I liked how it sounded when she said it, she learned it from a realm she was forced to separate from the rest of the realms, it apparently means, the fate you needed to find,¡± stated Arson simply.


    ¡°Hmm, not going to lie you pulled me in with that,¡± read Arson just before he opened the door to his next target. Only to find a room full of Cultivators waiting for him, ready to charge.


    ¡°Hey Anastasia,¡± said Arson as he shut the door and backed up.


    ¡°Really no warning?¡± He stepped back as he readied himself, a breath before the door exploded from its hinges.


    ¡°Hey, Arson, you¡¯re about to run into some trouble, any last words? Ooh what about, I love you mom, or something dorky like that, you seem to really love your mom,¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m good. Message Jasmine for me instead,¡± said Arson as he raised his hand toward the groups of cultivators as they rushed out the door onto the roof Arson currently occupied.


    ¡°What do you want to say,¡± said Anastasia with a pout on the screen of his watch.


    ¡°Eureka!¡±

 Chapter 27: Broken

    Arson was strong for his age. Incredibly strong in fact. With only one real exception.


    His massive regenerative abilities were completely dependent on external mana, or energies. To his surprise, conductive waters worked on enemy Cultivators and managed to steal mana with every landed blow.


    Problem was, there were more enemies than he could reasonably shoot without his next option being either to flee¡­ or die. He may have been nice by incapacitating the Wretches he came in contact with, but the same would most likely not be reciprocated.


    ¡°No chance of us talking this out then?¡± More than two dozen Wretches charged him at once, the entire groups yells hit him at once as they pushed forward.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t think so¡­¡±


    Arson tried to run but only managed to make it around the side of a shed like structure affixed to the rooftop. He was flanked to either side, and ended up being forced to blind fire his conductive water orbs. Each lobbed projectile was followed by screams.


    Arson was surprised that none of the many Cultivators that managed to make it onto the roof hadn¡¯t decided to rush him from multiple angles. He peeked his head out, only to immediately be fired on with different mana-based attacks. A chunk was blown off the structure he hid behind, and he realized he didn¡¯t have time to stay inactive.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be doing very well in this situation, would you like some help?¡± Anastasia¡¯s voice buzzed through the silence that overtook the roof. Arson shook his head, and peeked his head around the corner while he charged three compressed orbs in his palm.


    This was a terrible idea, as it only increased how much of a threat the nearby Wretches considered him to be. Rubble rained down around him as more of the shed was blasted apart.


    ¡°If you would have warned me, I wouldn¡¯t be in this situation, I¡¯d rather give you back to my mom than let you feel comfortable with throwing away my life,¡± said Arson as he lobbed more orbs overhead.


    ¡°I¡¯m sad you feel so distrustful of me, I¡¯m probably your most loyal confidant,¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°You¡¯re a cracked piece of sparking software that my mother warned me about, and now I truly regret not listening to her. Should have known your sweet words were fluff and dynamite,¡± screamed Arson over the roar of the explosions around him. The Wretches had given up on an end to this encounter when he tried to escape, and committed to a more¡­ immediate end.


    Arson would have flown away, but had long lacked the mana to successfully escape, and be able to get back with the other members that had followed him further into the depths of the city.


    The first wave of Wretches failed to make it close, but Arson soon ran out of mana entirely. He felt his heart skip a beat as there didn¡¯t seem to be an end to the number of people that tried to flood the roof.


    He prepared himself in the moment between his last conductive water orb, and his foes¡¯ realization that he was finally spent.


    ¡°Where the sparks are all my people, you demon!¡± A girl ran out of the door flanked by a dozen or more Cultivators, and Arson¡¯s head spun at how many opponents surrounded him in that moment.


    ¡°Who, me? I didn¡¯t do anything,¡± said Arson as he pointed at himself. The deep voice vibrated the roof slightly, and the group got ready for battle, and Arson smiled to himself.


    ¡°Where are all my people!¡±


    ¡°Your people? Would that make you Micro then? You should work on your security, my AI seems to think it was laughable at best,¡± replied Arson.


    ¡°First person to bring me his head gets a promotion!¡± Arson had apparently no way of communication with the leader of the Wretches, and wondered if he should have retreated long ago.


    He was charged by three or four at once, and his martial skills proved to be a boon he would never again complain about. Arson continued to incapacitate his opponents, but that only seemed to further anger those around him.


    Then the fireball came and Arson was thrown off his feet for the first time. Then he managed to receive more blows than he could count before he was able to stand, as the many around him stomped down recklessly.


    He couldn¡¯t help but grow angry, and more of the Wretches were knocked out or broken in ways that left them unable to fight when Arson retaliated.


    Arson held hope that he would make it out of the situation without true harm, only for things to change rapidly.


    The amount of elemental attacks that came in his direction far eclipsed what he was able to dodge, parry, or even absorb. He rolled end over end to one side of the roof, and was surrounded before he could get to his feet. The beatdown they gave Arson was an experience that hit far too close to a past trauma. An adoption gone wrong, where his new mother used her fist to communicate. Arson ran back to the orphanage enough times that they gave up on the adoption.


    Where the beatings came to an end when his mother got bored, the gang with missing members held a much higher threshold for violence.


    Luckily they didn¡¯t seem to be able to break his alloy lined bones, but still managed to dislocate and misalign them easily. In the end it was probably Arson¡¯s own poison-filled body that did more damage to himself , as his softer muscles collided and ripped on contact with his bones. He began to bleed internally, which quickly made it harder to breathe and stay conscious.


    Arson could even feel the light within his soul realm dim. Even more strange he felt himself lose stat points, as if his body traded them for the energy to stay awake and even alive.


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    They beat him blue and purple, and he thought about opening his cowl or mask to the energy that he was still being struck with, but his mind couldn¡¯t remember the function in the haze brought on by the repeated blows.


    The pain made him miss the feeling of the sun on his face. The pain brought on deeper traumas that always flowed to the surface when he was near to death. He heard the buzz begin in his ears.


    Like the endless hum of bees before they stung.


    His mind drifted into a dark place. The core of his soul was a void, far unlike the exterior that shone with the reflection of all his knowledge and connections.


    This place held his fears. His fears of death and so much more that he was truly unaware of.


    A dark voice spoke to him. Told him about his failures. Told him about all his shortcomings and how they were the direct root to his current predicament. Arson couldn¡¯t help but bathe in the dark sensations, as he didn¡¯t want to feel the pain being delivered upon his body.


    He felt the poison of the darkness writhe to life, and make him want to gag as if he couldn¡¯t contain it. His mother had warned him that his emotions could potentially bring on a rejection of a poison, but Arson managed to force down the sensations both mentally and physically.


    After a while he felt his prone figure being carried an incredible distance. He thought he felt the same sensation he¡¯d felt when Khalif had watched him earlier, but soon lost the impression as the group took him deeper.


    Eventually they arrived in an area with a massive hole at the center of it that reminded Arson of the holes at the dump. His mother had told him never to go near the holes at night and Arson had wondered why, and now was curious to know if the dump also had its holes surrounded in green flames at night?


    He was barely able to open an eyelid as the group broke off from the larger mass of Wretches and took Arson toward the hole. He only then realized they were going to throw him in as they spoke about it.


    Arson tried to cry out. For Khalif, Troy, Anyone. His mother came to mind and tears filled Arson¡¯s eyes.


    He was disappointed in himself. He¡¯d thought he would have been able to take down far more orphans, and maybe even most of the higher ups of the Wretches, and would instead die because of his own hubris.


    Arson gave into his darkest emotions in that moment. The exact same moment that the group that held him overhead, crested the lit section that rimmed the hole.


    What Arson had thought to be synthetic light, was in fact, moonlight. The energy reflected by the moon and stars filled the hole that led all the way to the surface and sky above.


    Mana filled his body in a rush and a pulse of energy went out from his center. Arson roared and roared as his bones snapped back into place. The group froze as Arson¡¯s rapid recovery was triggered.


    ¡°What are you idiots doing? Throw him!¡± They obeyed and Arson was thrown over the flame, and into the air above the black hole below. His eyes opened finally as he neared the center of the hole, and Arson fell.


    His body filled further with fuel as he fell deeper, still touched by the moonlight and stars above. His roars could be heard from the depths of a hole that he would not perish in. He rose and flew out the center of the hole and barely missed the various elemental attacks the Wretches were capable of.


    He spun through the flurry of attacks with a grace in the air he was not normally capable of. His focus had been distorted by his rage, and he stopped in the air above the Wretches and took the whole group in at once.


    Power thrummed wildly through his veins and Arson had more targets than he could count in a single breath. None of which he had any pity for.


    He didn¡¯t want to live in a land where the strong ruled with strength alone. Nor did he any longer believe that he could change the ways of the people around him in a single night.


    Cultivators spoke in power, and Arson lacked many prominent characteristics of the divine in his own mind, but excess power was not something he¡¯d believed he¡¯d ever live without.


    How wrong he had been. This would be his primary focus if he managed to escape this situation alive, but he couldn¡¯t leave without Khalif and the others. So he decided to fight until his last breath to reach his own friends, Wretches be sparked.


    He was awake now, but it was a piece of himself that he hated. The piece of himself that respected the power of flame. The piece of himself that respected the man he was named after. Arson Malicious, First King of the Skies.


    The stars in his eyes swirled and Arson poured everything he had into the various energies as they shot forward from his face. Different colors could be seen as the volatile elements separated and affected those struck.


    Some were frozen, electrified, or scorched. Others seemed poisoned, or disappeared entirely. Arson¡¯s full spectrum of poisons and his naturally attuned affinities could be seen at work.


    Arson grew angrier when he was again faced with an outpour of Wretches that once more full on charged him without a care for their own lives. He¡¯d been merciful before, but now the voice in the back of his mind whispered in a language drowned in carnage and malice.


    They weren¡¯t up against the same Arson that wouldn¡¯t run when the odds were against him, they were up against the Arson that would now take any advantage he thought he had to succeed.


    He summoned the giant sun-like orb he¡¯d still needed to complete. Its tendrils immediately began to fight against the Cultivators.


    Arson didn¡¯t let up as his newly constructed skill drained attacks from the air and slammed foes into one another.


    He¡¯d also forgone the use of condensed conductive water orbs, and returned to the full sized projectiles. As well as overcharged dual casts.


    ¡°Flank em, you sparking fools!¡± The maneuver was valiantly attempted by the Wretches, but failed under the stress of his skills area of effect. It moved around Arson as if to control any foe that dare leave his line of sight with a body slam, or redirected elemental cast.


    Arson took full advantage and shot any and every effected enemy. He still roared and he hadn¡¯t even noticed but his mask was on and his crown was out. He no longer cared, he only wanted to survive, and go home to eat with his mother. He at first wanted to talk things out with them but then changed his mind after the situation escalated so rapidly.


    He opened the portal device that led to the apartment building and let his skill throw the Wretches in by the dozens. It was then that Micro began to panic and scream at Arson in protest.


    ¡°What do you want?! Let them go!¡±


    ¡°I gave you a chance. I asked you to stop working for Mr. Kim, he doesn¡¯t support the orphans. You didn¡¯t listen, or care to listen, so now, I drown your guild in their sleep. Can¡¯t be worse than whatever Mr. Kim would do, right? Not like he doesn¡¯t already underpay you and keep you in Old Town, sparking brat,¡± said Arson. He had no ill intention toward the Wretches, but he was so mad he¡¯d at least thought about the end of the entire orphan guild twice already that night.


    ¡°Stop! We can work this out. How were we supposed to know you¡¯d attack us if we didn¡¯t listen? Not even Mr. Kim has threatened our lives so directly. Don¡¯t get me wrong I know who I work for and why, but your measures seem extreme for a kid your age,¡± said Micro.


    Arson laughed, and stared her down for a moment before he responded.


    ¡°I¡¯m almost 8 season cycles old, and I was raised in the streets of the city you call your home, why would I be any less accustomed to violence and murder,¡± lied Arson. He¡¯d stayed away from the street life and kept his head in books as much as possible. He, of course, tried to learn to fight as most young potential Cultivators did before they gained a core, but hadn¡¯t made strides until the dump, and being trained by Jade and the olympian armors..


    ¡°Most kids your age can¡¯t even hold an assassin¡¯s blade correctly, and even though you have my Wretches in your clutches, I can¡¯t sense an ounce of killing intent on you. I bet you planned on ransoming their lives,¡± said Micro. Arson was glad that his mask didn¡¯t betray his surprised features, and growled. He couldn¡¯t let this girl know a thing, even if she seemed to have him figured out.


    ¡°None of you are taking me seriously, that¡¯s fine, but for how long can you all keep it up, we find and turn your spies so fast it¡¯s almost a joke, our methods are better, and even more, we push our cultivators to the limit, not hide them underground,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Were you for real when you offered benefits,¡± asked Micro. Arson couldn¡¯t help but pull down both his mask and cowl at her question. His confusion and shock at the turn of events had reached its peak. He wondered momentarily if the girl was crazy, then realized that most people probably saw him as crazy. It was natural to be more than eccentric in the NationCity of Maelstrom.


    ¡°Yeah, why¡­?¡± responded Arson carefully. He didn¡¯t know what to expect next from the young gang leader.


    Micro looked back at the Wretches behind her and laughed. Then she showed her mangled teeth, and the state of dental care amongst many of the other Wretches with a point, and Arson understood why she¡¯d asked.


    ¡°We have a lot more than just dental,¡± said Arson as he looked around. It wasn¡¯t a lie either. He¡¯d had many of the Bookish begin to study practical skills that they would need to thrive without external assistance, and found that mostly medical and food cultivation needs were primary for success in a venture as large as Arson planned for.


    Jasmine didn¡¯t let a single person go unclothed, and Rob didn¡¯t let a single person go unfed. They made their guild members work for it, but that was only because Arson told them to.


    ¡°Where do I sign up?¡± said one of the Wretches as he climbed out of the portal apartment still on the ground nearby. Micro looked at the young man then Arson. She smiled and shrugged.


    ¡°Me first.¡±

 Chapter 28: Rivalries & Drug Lords

    Arson sat with Xani. The entire construction project could be seen in progress from Xani¡¯s drone grid. The cameras either stayed in motion or posted in a single location which Arson found fascinating.


    ¡°How do you watch all the cameras at once?¡± asked Arson.


    ¡°Unlike you, kiddo, I¡¯ve finished my core and have begun to practice real magic, not just the use of system-given skills,¡± responded Xani. Her smile was vibrant and Arson couldn¡¯t understand her answer entirely so he continued the long train of questions that had begun since he walked into her workspace.


    ¡°I know that about magic already. I guess I am asking what factor of magic allows you to do that?¡±


    ¡°That depends on a lot of factors, my attribute system, stat allocation and even my ability to learn non system-given skills.¡± Arson nodded and just when Xani thought there would be a true moment of silence he asked another question.


    ¡°So what magical skill did you learn outside of the system-given skills that allows you to concentrate on multiple things at one time,¡± prompted Arson. Xani had by that point been fully drawn into a state of hypnosis, and answered the question without thought.


    ¡°Mind domain splitting,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°Can you teach me Mind Domain Splitting?¡±


    ¡°Why sure I can. I don¡¯t see¡ª hey what the sparks am I saying? You¡¯re only seven, Arson. What do you need to split your bloody mind for? You don¡¯t think you¡¯re involved with enough already?¡± Xani seemed to snap out of the trance, and Arson noted the extent of the simple trances use for further experimentation.


    ¡°You said you learned it outside the bounds of the system anyway, so what¡¯s wrong with you teaching me before my core is finished? It¡¯s not like anyone knows how to finish my core entirely anyway, but I at least know my mental core is complete,¡± said Arson. Arson often visited the space tree.


    He still didn¡¯t know its true purpose, but it did grow rapidly, supported by the storm that also grew above it. As well as his own soul¡¯s energy as it grew.


    The swirl of incredible energy spat from the blackhole beneath the trees sunlit roots was constantly being devoured, in addition to the rain from above. The tree seemed to be fed by Arson merely being alive, and he sometimes felt it to be the true source of his regeneration.


    He had no clue how to work on the size of his mana pool, but had spoken with his mother about it a handful of times. She had refused to give him any information on how to increase his own pool as she felt it was too dangerous with his current lack of emotional discipline. The larger the source of power, the larger the potential for mood swings in the young.


    She even showed him the barcode that tagged her as a nuclear device from her childhood. It was small and lined the underside of her chin that wasn¡¯t drowned in a flame tattoo. Apparently it was in Musou black, a strange sort of liquid that was used to drink in light for as long as the individual lived.


    Arson began to wonder about the liquid and how he could maybe use it, but dismissed it when his mother told him how hard it was to create. Temporarily at least.


    ¡°What is next for you if I show you how to split your minds concentration then,¡± asked Xani.


    Arson listed off several things he had to work on and Xani laughed to herself before she spoke up again. He didn¡¯t like that she¡¯d laughed at his short list of goals, but listened to her instruction regardless. It had been much harder for Arson not to lash out since his semi successful raid of the wretches.


    ¡°That is the key, hold all of the things you want to focus on in your head, and keep them there, I started with 3, not 7, and rotated the objects of my focus, constantly, until it didn¡¯t matter what number I thought of, I could perceive it fully, at the same time as any other number, or all the numbers, start small, then challenge yourself when things become easy,¡± said Xani all at once. Arson¡¯s forehead scrunched as he thought about what she¡¯d said, and he smiled.


    ¡°Sounds like a fun mental exercise, I¡¯ll add them to the ones my mom has me doing already. Thanks, Xani,¡± said Arson. He began to practice in his head immediately and zoned out completely. Xani tried to invoke any semblance of a conversation for a while, but gave up after Arson¡¯s third half hearted answer. Only to be startled when he began to ask questions again.


    ¡°Wow, this is an odd sensation, it¡¯s like I¡¯m picturing an entirely different place and its needs, but if I push myself I might be able to converse more casually. Am I even doing this right?¡± Xani gave him an odd look, and cursed under her breath before she responded.


    ¡°How many things are you trying to focus on?¡±


    ¡°Seven,¡± answered Arson.


    ¡°I told you to start small, if your foundation is shaky, so will be the skill itself, it will also be graded and regulated once you have truly gained the ability, and it is much harder to level a skill than to be granted a high grade, trust me,¡± said Xani.


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    ¡°Well, I can practically picture anything in my mind, but it feels like I¡¯m currently imagining what it would be like to hold seven different things in my mind and be able to talk to you at the same time,¡± said Arson. Xani asked him a blur of questions, and then smiled.


    ¡°Keep on practicing, stay at seven, are you ready to hear the status report for street sales?¡± Arson nodded and turned back toward the screens. He had to force himself to not try and split his attention again to include the wall of holograms in front of him.


    ¡°Rob and the crew have completely taken over the delivery market in the Old Town sector, due to how inexpensive you¡¯ve made some foods, some even considered to be delicacies. We don¡¯t have much competition in lower end markets, in addition to what we managed to pull in from the private guests at the nightclub, Rob and his second are pulling in almost three million credits a meal served, and are constantly booked.¡± Arson took some time to process her words. He also took time to watch the deliveries being made by both his new and more senior employees. The orphans were well trained and beyond professional.


    ¡°Is it Rob teaching our people such high levels of customer service, or Jasmine?¡±


    ¡°Both honestly, Jasmine puts them through hell, and if they dare try to join crew without any type of home training, Rob forces them to work under Jasmine for a period of time as well, some like it enough and never come back,¡± said Xani with a laugh.


    ¡°You¡¯d think that people would always shoot for crew since they make so much,¡± said Arson with a laugh of his own.


    ¡°Yeah, until they see how much Jasmine¡¯s teams really pull in. Do you know that you have a vintage watch salesmen that doesn¡¯t talk to anyone under 100k credits a transaction, or that some of your recent wealth is from literal hover bike sales that have increased in use since blackhole¡¯s success with them?¡± Arson shook his head.


    ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll move on to Jasmine¡¯s report then. Eureka is taking off pretty well, and the Musou black suit advertisement went viral. Khalif hates you for making him web famous, by the way. Moving on, vintage clothing sales brought in 21 million last week alone, plus another 55 million in private sales,¡± said Xani before Arson cut in.


    ¡°Private sales?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we have dozens of private show clients now that want their clothes modeled with live models rather than holograms, which Jasmine can provide easily, many of the young men and women that model for her have started their idol careers already because of it, most of the private showings are actually because of your sister Autumn and her ritzy friends requesting private shows before their every event, I guess Jasmine is the only provider that can keep up with the girls constant need for a change in style,¡± said Xani. Arson frowned and Xani rolled her eyes.


    ¡°She¡¯s paying high rates, Arson, don¡¯t mess up a good for thing for Jasmine,¡± said Xani. Arson cooled off instantly. He noted that Xani seemed to know exactly what to say to calm him down recently. Not only did she remain blunt, but she illuminated the threats his actions could have to their longevity.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯ll ignore it, but I guarantee you that Lane is going to catch some heat for it at some point,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Speaking of which, Lane or Khalif next?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m going with Khalif, and don¡¯t forget your own report Xani,¡± said Arson. The young woman nodded and begun Khalif¡¯s report and the contents shocked Arson.


    ¡°Coming in at 2nd place, we have Khalif and the newly proclaimed Event Horizon, they made a considerable 578 million credits last week, through their guard jobs, training sessions throughout nearly all of old town, and private body guard testing packages,¡± said Xani. Arson¡¯s eyes went wide and he was shaken by the numbers.


    ¡°I see how he paid for one of the suites we are going to offer at BHC, but what the sparks is a bodyguard test?¡±


    ¡°You pay us to test your bodyguard, we see if we can kidnap you and if we do, you hire one of our guards instead, Khalif said that because of some sort of apartment building in a box that you worked out that the jobs are child¡¯s play, I¡¯ve sent the footage to Lane but haven¡¯t watched it myself yet.¡±


    ¡°Ok, but you said second place, whose in first, you or lane?¡± Xani laughed heartily. Her eyes still on the holograms.


    ¡°I¡¯m obviously in first place, I supply the goods to every other one of the other branches of BlackHole, except for food, and that is going to change rapidly as the farmland we are working on is almost done, but the sales of my redesigned living limos puts me in a different earnings bracket,¡± stated Xani. Arson shrugged as she was right. Xani had already sold three of the luxurious living room limos, and their billion credit price tag wasn¡¯t something to laugh at. Nor were the 100 million credit subscription packages for upgrades.


    ¡°So why save Lane for last if you were in first place?¡±


    ¡°Because the woman is an animal, and deserves every credit you pay her,¡± said Xani with a wave of her hand. All the holograms changed to show one image of Lane at a news desk. Xani played the video and Arson was immediately captivated.


    ¡°Welcome back my fellow cultivators, this is BHN, Black Hole News is provided to you by the BlackHole Syndicate, today we have a special announcement to make,¡± said Lane on screen.


    ¡°Wow the production value is insane, she did this with your drones?¡± Xani only nodded and let the girl on screen speak.


    ¡°First is the second grand opening that BlackHole has planned for this season alone, which is, The BHC.¡± Images of the shopping mall and mini coliseum above it were displayed. Then the luxury suites being built below the club were displayed and even his famous sister could be seen being served food and modeled for on one of the private suites rooftop gardens.


    ¡°Sparks¡­,¡± Arson cursed at how good the holograms were, as most new companies didn¡¯t start with high quality advertisement departments, nor someone as skilled as Lane.


    ¡°The current underground champion has a 2v1 scheduled for the grand opening three days from now.¡± Troy was then shown In a bare knuckle match. Hard light clones railed into her opponent from many angles and Arson couldn¡¯t help but smirk at his best friend¡¯s vigor in the ring. She¡¯d changed a lot, but she was incredibly strong, which only made him want to work harder.


    ¡°With Black Hole¡¯s development of Black Hole garden, the new store is planned to be completed in a mere season, but before then, we are hosting a small festival centered around a tournament for young cultivators. Sorry scions and idols of Maelstrom, but we don¡¯t get to participate in this one, this is for those without names that need a bit of recognition,¡± said Lane. Khalif was then shown as he trained with Arson, secured a target, and then a flash of him in the realm¡¯s darkest material made into a suit. he couldn¡¯t use it for what he wanted to, but was glad it worked for their clothing line so well. They didn¡¯t actually offer Musou black material quite yet because of how expensive it was to manufacture, but the single suit they¡¯d managed to make did sky rocket their clothing sales.


    More flashes could be seen of the things they had in the works, and Arson was made hungry by all the food commercials Lane threw in to show off the crew¡¯s skills. There was even a flash of Jade as she instructed Rob and the others in the kitchen.


    ¡°Welcome to the Black Hole community my fellow cultivators, don¡¯t miss out, also use my name for sign up and your first purchase discount on the new BHC app, and yes we do deliver,¡± said Lane with a smile and the show ended with a scan-able link to download their app.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even know we had an app,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Yes you did, you suggested it to me a few days ago,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°Yeah, suggested it, as in, hey Xani this is probably a good idea, what do you think. Normally there would be more of a conversation before we pull the trigger on something this big,¡± stated Arson. He didn¡¯t feel slighted, but he would never be ok with being misinformed or left in the dark when it came to his own company.


    ¡°I felt dumb for not already having something like that in place when you suggested it and may have rushed to get a strong working model out there, it¡¯s already increased sales, and is why Jasmine is booked solid as well as all her teams,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°Are you the only one of my branch heads with free time currently?¡±


    ¡°Nope, I squeezed you into my footage monitoring time, I have to leave soon actually,¡± responded Xani. Arson sighed and said his goodbyes before he went to go find Khalif. He had to talk to his friend about the rumors about Mr. Kim. If the man had truly begun to spread drugs throughout the sectors of the city that Arson was involved in, a full on retaliation would soon be at hand.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope you haven¡¯t lost your sparking mind, Mr. Kim¡­¡±

 Chapter 29: Medicinal

    Arson had many things on his mind. All of which fueled his mind splitting training to new heights.


    He couldn¡¯t yet hold seven of anything in his mind quite yet, but he could easily hold three. The feat was astounding in the world of cultivation, especially at his age, but it would never be acknowledged, as things of a grand magnitude were quickly becoming the new normal for Arson.


    ¡°How long are we going to keep this up for boss?¡± Arson and Khalif tore around an alleyway corner at reckless speeds on a hover bike.


    Arson forced Khalif to dress up in a disguise, and had also dressed down and muddied his features to present himself differently.


    Khalif had only laughed at Arson¡¯s appearance, but his boss¡¯ plan had worked, and now they were being chased by not only a gang of drug dealing teenagers, but Mr. Kim¡¯s street runners as well.


    Arson had claimed that there wasn¡¯t a better drug dealer in the city to a handful of people, only to pocket any opposition that approached him with animosity over his claim.


    Khalif shook his head with every unconscious drug dealer he dropped into Arson¡¯s pocket building. Until they found themselves surrounded by a few dozen Cultivators. One of which had made even Khalif want to run.


    ¡°Where is all my product, kid?¡± Arson sneered back at the drug lord known as Cyrus.


    ¡°Keep your dirt off my streets, Cyrus!¡± Arson yelled as he threw an orb of conductive waters at the young man that chased them on foot. Cyrus was also followed by groups on hover bikes, but didn¡¯t seem to care about friend or foe as he knocked Arson¡¯s attacks to the side.


    A few of the hover bikes were flipped after being struck sidelong by the orbs. While cars veered off the road to dodge the group as they paraded through the streets.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to get rid of all of you BHC sparkers one by one, then I¡¯m going to end your runt of a leader, then¡­!¡± Arson sprayed the street with almost 100 condensed orbs that rained down like bullets on the large group behind them. Cyrus was cut off as a parked car exploded next to him and collided with a hover bike he¡¯d just hurdled in a single leap.


    Arson cursed under his breath as the wild haired young man didn¡¯t miss a single step when debris collided with his back, which only seemed to push Cyrus even faster toward them.


    ¡°What the sparks is this guy made out of?¡± yelled Arson.


    ¡°Steel, dynamite, and your mother¡¯s¡ª¡± started Cyrus, Only for Arson to glare back at him while he shot a half dozen orbs at the drug lord. Projectiles begun to rain around Khalif and Arson as their enemies fired back. Some used guns, others used skills, and even more used various types of elemental magics.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem!¡± Arson turned around to see what Khalif was worried about. Only to realize they were going to collide with either a speed trap or an entire intersection of perpendicular traffic.


    The speed trap would steal momentum from their hover bike immediately, and entirely, which they couldn¡¯t let happen, nor could they weave through traffic as the hover vehicles in front of them traveled at double or triple their own speed, and being t-boned by anything moving faster than they were didn¡¯t sound like a good plan to Arson.


    ¡°Don¡¯t slow down!¡± Arson¡¯s words stretched as he slowed his perception as much as he could and focused. He stood on the back of the hover bike and raised both his hands to fire.Condensed orbs of conductive waters sped out like rifle rounds. Arson mangled the front and back of two vehicles to either side of the street they traveled down.


    The smashed ends of the two vehicles would be useless if his next action failed.


    He only had two chances, and fired a handful of full sized orbs behind the cars to push them both into the street. Luckily for him Khalif trusted him and pushed their own hover bike as fast as it could go.


    Khalif screamed as they rocketed into the air. The smashed vehicles served as a perfect ramp temporarily, and Arson smiled until he turned around in his seat.


    They flew through the air above hover cars as the vehicles roared passed underneath their own hover bike. Arson made eye contact with Cyrus the moment the young man jumped into the air behind them.


    Cyrus was obviously going to clear both lanes of traffic, which Arson had hoped for.


    Arson fired conductive orbs behind Cyrus, and the explosions caused the entryway to become entirely clogged by battered and broken cars.


    None of the other gang members or street runners were able to follow. A fact Arson assumed Cyrus wouldn¡¯t think about until after they¡¯d successfully separated him from any help. Which proved to be exactly what occurred.


    Khalif snickered as he landed the hover-bike with a spray of sparks caused by the bikes frame making contact with the street below. He hooted in excitement, and Arson couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    Arson looked back and saw Cyrus¡¯s very impressive landing, and the young man began to run again as if he hadn¡¯t just jumped over multiple lanes of traffic.


    ¡°Just me and you now Cyrus,¡± yelled Arson as he rolled his neck to stretch, and cracked his knuckles.


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    Arson gave Khalif the signal to slow the hover-bike. He then stepped off the vehicle before it even managed to stop and faced off with the much taller Cyrus.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna make you wish you died before you met me!¡± Cyrus didn¡¯t slow down. He picked up a car and put it in front of himself like a shield as he charged toward Arson.


    Arson tried to fire both at the car like shield and the uncovered feet of the drug lord. The explosions barely moved the titan-like cultivator, and Arson was forced to dive out of the way.


    ¡°You want some help buddy,¡± yelled Khalif in question.


    ¡°No,¡± grunted Arson as he landed back first into a toppled bus. Arson barely managed to dodge the first attempted swing Cyrus made with the car he held as easily as a bat. Only to be swatted away like a bug in the next second. The back half of the car landed flush against Arson¡¯s body in the same instant he managed to come to his feet.


    Khalif winced when Arson flew through the shop window nearby, but couldn¡¯t help but laugh at his young leader¡¯s curses at the shopkeeper¡¯s hollered complaints.


    ¡°I pay my destruction taxes like everyone else, lady! Push off!¡± Arson knew that he had racked up quite the bill every time his face was seen amidst destruction on the cameras in Maelstrom, but since he paid, no one bothered him. Regardless of how many buildings he knocked over or damaged.


    Arson realized he had no chance of a win in this situation if he only used his orbs as he had been. Cyrus was seemingly beyond resilient, and Arson couldn¡¯t help but grow angrier with every failed attack.


    So Arson charged up two orbs, and held them in his hands as he charged at Cyrus. The older young man, merely laughed at the diminutive Arson¡¯s charge¡­ at first.


    What Arson didn¡¯t know about conductive waters, was that the orbs were charged by literally any manna source they touched physically. He of course overcharged them in the past, but had never held the orbs as the SunStorm Sovereign had in the vision he witnessed to learn the skill originally.


    Arson had never thought of the skill as a melee based attack, but in his desperation, he acted on pure instinct rather than calculation or plan.


    Cyrus laughed at Arson, until the first orb struck him in the center of his stomach. The orb didn¡¯t explode as Arson still held onto it, but a pulse of explosive water and sparks of lightning surged out in a halo of energy centered around the orb. To Arson¡¯s surprise Cyrus was flung backward at an incredible speed, and smashed headfirst into yet another innocently parked car.


    Cyrus climbed out of the rubble of the nearly flattened vehicle, and shook his head vigorously to shake off the daze brought on by his impact.


    Khalif laughed when Cyrus frowned at Arson, and began to throw large car parts at him. Arson sneered back at his foe and dodged the full sized terrain vehicles with every movement. Cyrus grew agitated while Arson closed the distance and before the young drug lord knew it, Arson was on him.


    Arson ran up the body of the seven foot man, and threw a flurry of conductive water enhanced punches after he managed to wrap his legs around Cyrus¡¯s chest.


    Cyrus held it together at first but after the seventh punch, he looked confused. After the eleventh, fear filled the young man¡¯s eyes, and Arson recognized the defeat his opponent felt by his facial features alone. He looked like a child woken up by a disgruntled parent.


    Arson tied the young man up and hung him by his feet from a telephone pole and left him to swing there as his fellow gang members approached the scene slowly. Lane flew in followed by a group of drone cameras, and began to record.


    ¡°Welcome back folks, to this special episode of BHC News,¡± said Lane as she landed in front of the crouched Arson.


    The camera angle showed a crouched Arson, as well as Lane and Khalif, who stood to either side of the dangling Cyrus. The drug lord thrashed and tried to yell through his gag, only to look like a fish out of water, with his entire gang in the background like curious onlookers.


    ¡°Today our gracious leader has a message,¡± said Lane. Khalif nodded with his eyes closed after she spoke and Arson rested his chin on his hand while he wiped his face clean.


    ¡°Lord Sovereign, you have come here today to discuss the problems you see in your neighborhood, primarily, drug use, comments?¡± Khalif nodded again and Arson answered.


    ¡°Drugs are bad,¡± said Arson. Lane nodded and so did Khalif.


    ¡°So what is your plan to deal with the drugs in the city?¡± Khalif still kept his eyes closed, and put on a frown until Arson spoke up again to lane¡¯s question.


    ¡°This¡­,¡± said Arson with a jabbed thumb over his shoulder toward Cyrus. Khalif then smiled and once again nodded at the response given.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± said Lane excited. Arson shook his head and Khalif continued to nod before his boss answered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do drugs¡­,¡± said Arson simply.


    ¡°There you have it, folks, from the mouth of our beloved leader, right to your ears, don¡¯t do drugs, and this¡­,¡± said Lane with an open palm gesture toward Cyrus.


    ¡°Won¡¯t happen to you!¡±


    The stream ended and Arson rose to his feet. They had a lot more gang leaders to handle before the end of the day, and Arson refused to be late for his training session with Troy at the dump later that evening.


    He¡¯d noticed that Troy was the only one of his team members able to push his limits, and didn¡¯t want to miss the opportunity, regardless of how much he hated drugs being on the streets.


    He¡¯d made it mandatory to be sober on the job, but that didn¡¯t stop many from doing as the young did outside of work. So in an attempt to limit how drugs affected his business, he¡¯d decided to attack the problem at the source.


    They ended up able to dismantle almost seven drug rings in the area closest to BHC before Arson quit for the day, but he couldn¡¯t help but be annoyed.


    ¡°Just because you can¡¯t completely purge Maelstrom of drugs in a day, doesn¡¯t mean that you aren¡¯t doing well enough, Arson,¡± said Troy. A hard-light clone vanished and reappeared before a copy of Troy kicked Arson several times. The last kick more severe than the rest, which sent him through the air almost as quickly as the hard light clone itself had moved.


    Arson slowly crawled out of the trash heap he¡¯d landed in, and made it to his feet. Troy seemed distracted, and that only pushed Arson to bring her further into the present moment. So instead of continuing to babble about his own issues, he asked her about her own.


    ¡°Says you, Miss I-can¡¯t-be-beaten-in-the-ring, how long is your win streak now?¡±


    ¡°11, but this next fight,¡± started Troy, but she didn¡¯t manage to finish her sentence.


    ¡°Still not going to give you as much exhilaration as fighting the olympian armors,¡± asked Arson. Feeling that he knew the reason why Troy had been so distracted lately.


    ¡°Just because you wanted to be a fighter your whole life doesn¡¯t mean that you are meant to be one, I see how you get when you teach the younger kids how to fight and defend themselves, I mean come on, do you think I expected to be anything but a broke hoodlum?¡± He hadn¡¯t given her time to answer his first question, but she nodded regardless.


    ¡°What am I supposed to think about myself at this point, I¡¯ve become semi pro as a fighter, I¡¯m not homeless, nor am I broke as I thought I would be, but none of it feels like enough, my best friend is seven, I am truly only challenged by you or Jade, which almost makes me want to join a fight school with you this summer, I only feel alive when my instincts are pushed harder than my own thoughts, and now I feel like I¡¯m having a mid life crisis far too early in life,¡± said Troy.


    Arson didn¡¯t know what to say. He hated being so young sometimes, but knew that age wasn¡¯t always going to hold him back from what he wanted in life.


    He didn¡¯t think that words of patience would work, as he was never patient himself. Nor did he want to be hypocritical. His friend was truly in need of guidance, and Arson felt ashamed to not be able to offer anything of substance or value. Until¡­


    ¡°Hey, do you want to go on vacation with me and the others, we all work a lot, and none of us really get to relax unless we are at a celebratory work event, I don¡¯t know about you, but I need some time to clear my head, and maybe you need to get away to get a broader picture of your path. I don¡¯t know, I feel like I heard Almarine say that once,¡± said Arson with a chuckle.


    ¡°Vacation, seriously?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why not, with the grand opening of the BHC coming up, we probably won¡¯t have time to do it afterward, especially if you plan to go pro after the summer, right.¡± Troy nodded, and Arson summoned his new and unfinished skill. Troy smiled back at Arson as he grinned at her. Six full body clones of light were manifested by Troy in the next instant, while the sun like orb grew above Arson¡¯s head.


    ¡°Now can we get back to training, I actually want to make a break through before I have to get poisoned again,¡± said Arson with a sigh.


    ¡°Yeah, thanks, buddy. I¡¯m excited, do you have an idea of where you want to go?¡± The sun above Arson¡¯s head begun to rotate slowly, more and more tendrils lashed out while the speed of its rotation increased threefold.


    ¡°Where else can a Cultivator truly relax other than a dungeon?¡±

 Chapter 30: The 11 Purities

    Arson hadn¡¯t believed his mother when she¡¯d said that the elements he was aligned with would join his body much more quickly than the rest, but as always, she was right.


    He completed air, and felt what it was like to be vibrated at such an intense speed that he almost evaporated. Water, by actually being forced to fill his lungs with the substance. Light, by being forced to experience his veins be filled with the energy in all of its forms. Which included, liquid light, hardened light, and even pure electricity.


    What halted his current progress was the understanding that the magics that were the building blocks for gravitational forces were separate from legitimate spacial magics. He only had three poisons left to experience, and had decided on gravity, time & space, then creation.


    He knew the order of his intake would matter but the how had honestly eluded him. He felt the changes to his body, but only slightly.


    As Arson had only had his core for a few days before he¡¯d begun his tempering, the drastic changes that would normally be felt, were overshadowed by Arson¡¯s core growth.


    Instead of being filled with the sensation of endless flexibility one normally felt after they¡¯d experienced the poison of water manna, Arson felt increased regeneration. Instead of the endless stamina gained by air poison, he instead felt increased regeneration. The same could be said for practically all the other poisons he¡¯d undergone, and Arson assumed that nothing would change that.


    Then he chose gravity in the first kingdom of magic and immediately realized how wrong he¡¯d been. The wand that symbolized the force created by existence itself hadn¡¯t seemed threatening compared to what he¡¯d thought he¡¯d experienced with all of the other elements. It was nearly invisible in its structure, and seemed to be more reflective rather than actually translucent. Then the figure that represented the last master of the wand could be seen temporarily and Arson cocked his head.


    The woman looked like Jade, but oddly enough, her eyes were identical to Arson¡¯s own. As if her irises also had been formed from a ripped piece of the night sky painted across a red canvas.


    Arson also realized that the woman wasn¡¯t robed as the other masters had been, but was instead in a uniform identical to a graveyard officer. Instead of the normal message prompt that asked if he was sure, the woman spoke up in question.


    ¡°Are you sure, my grandson? I unlike the rest of the natural forces you have consumed a small piece of cannot bestow anything but the full intent of my power, and once received you will no longer be shielded by the illusions made to support your non-ascended mind,¡± said the woman before Arson. Arson¡¯s mind flickered to the image he¡¯d seen of the monstrous beings that the magical masters stood before during his experience with the darkness elemental poison. He then wondered if he was truly ready to experience what his apparent grandmother had next for him.


    Even when Arson visited the star that had been created in his memory dedicated to the experience; he couldn¡¯t quite recall, or reimagine the image of the creature-like forces that had been gathered behind the floating wands and the forms of their projected masters in his mind.


    It was as if the mental picture he had captured, was actually an ever changing portrait, with a different variation for each master, wand, and being in the background, as there were raindrops to clouds in the sky.


    Arson assumed that this was because the wands potentially had many masters previously, or due to the chaotic or many different forms an element could be physically represented in. But while his ancestor stared him down, he began to feel as if maybe it was a combination of all of those things that made his mind unable to see the entities as any one thing.


    ¡°I am ready,¡± said Arson after a moments thought. He¡¯d long subjected himself to the pains and problems that came along with the process of being poisoned by elements, and feared failure more than death at this point in the process.


    His skill with magic and the strength of his body were virtually the only things that could truly hinder his cultivation journey, and his foundation with the elemental poisons directly effected both of those areas in his life.


    Arson wouldn¡¯t be able to use any type of magic that wasn¡¯t a part of his foundation. Nor would he be able to use real magic without completing his core first which moved both of those hurdles to the top of his priority list.


    Arson felt himself be lifted off the ground and heard his grandmother speak to him. At first he couldn¡¯t help but stare into the eyes that mimicked his own. The two stared down one another as the stars within their eyes spun slowly.


    ¡°Gravity is the truest energy in all of existence, It is created through the momentum and movement of the stars,¡± said Arson¡¯s grandmother. Arson felt the pressure begin to close in around him, and his mind drifted. He still heard the words being spoken to him, but his mind filled with questions.


    ¡°The first sun in existence has the largest influence over gravity in all of the realms,¡± said the woman. Arson¡¯s mind wandered and questioned how this woman could be his grandmother when her eyes were nearly identical to his own, but she looked like Jade, and not like the queen.


    ¡°Gravity is shared by all things, even as you grow in power, you will one day have your own gravitational pull,¡± said his grandmother. The pressure grew and Arson felt his body begin to heat up drastically. The pressure caused by the g-forces that pressed into him, began to mix the poison in his blood, bones, muscles and even the supposed dead cells of his body like his hair and fingernails.


    Even still the eyes of his grandmother kept his mind on questions he didn¡¯t have the answers to. If Jade was only his adopted mother, then how could Arson have inherited this woman¡¯s eyes, a woman that Arson felt undoubtedly was Jade¡¯s supposed dead mother.


    He¡¯d assumed that his grandmother was an Archon, it would only make sense, but just like with other significant details about the 11 families that form the Omni as a whole, Arson was completely in the dark.


    His family from what Arson had come to understand from his research, had always been cult-like in their holding of knowledge and secrets, and Arson didn¡¯t know if he wanted to change that fact, or even be involved at all.


    Arson of course had secrets of his own, but none of them he felt could affect society as a whole, as the things he learned about the Omni did.


    Arson was unable to read the prompt aloud as the red box popped into his vision. The storm within his body threatened to shut off his mind. Pain the only sensation that Arson could hang onto to stay conscious.


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    He felt a strange new energy fill his body. It felt like when he¡¯d tested his conductive waters orb by touching it. Unlike his foes, Arson only felt a cool breeze and the sensation of warm water rush across his skin.


    The sensation brought on by the new energy was odd in that he felt it was alive. He felt the same sensation when he looked at the energy above the creation wand and its master.


    Then Arson realized that his grandmother was now flanked by both the creation master and the time & space master. They too were also different than they once had been, and Arson knew instinctively that he had just been poisoned by both creation, alongside time & space mana.


    The mixture within his body grew to a volatile state, before a literal pop was heard. Followed by a gong-like sound that filled the entire area. It was in that moment that Arson¡¯s body completed its first round of tempering.


    A flood of mana and energy rushed into his veins through his pores and a sludge like tar pored from his mouth as the toxins within his system were forced out of the nearest exit point. Arson puked on top of the sludge after he unwillingly tasted it, and was glad that he hadn¡¯t soiled his pants instead.


    After a moment the influx of energy stopped and Arson was slowly returned to the ground below, but with all of the subtle changes that he should have been aware of prior being forced to the front of his mind.


    He felt as if he could fly. Well he already knew he could fly, but felt he could potentially achieve the feat without the use of mana. Xani had informed Arson that he actually used a variation of his conductive waters skill to fly, and was now shocked to understand the difference.


    He knew that if he willed it, his body would propel him through the air, but it bothered him that he didn¡¯t truly know how the actual flight would be possible. Magic eluded him, but he felt lucky to have access to the skills his ancestors¡¯ blood gave him the ability to use.


    By the time he opened his eyes the entire scene had changed. Arson could no longer see the rest of the dump. Instead he seemed to stand near the edge of the night sky itself.


    All he could see was a black void all around him which only further confused him when he took a step back and didn¡¯t fall through space. He wanted to flee for his life, but sensed that he might not be able to leave.


    ¡°You have officially awakened your blood, my grandchild. Welcome to the world of magic, you must still complete your core to continue any further, as we cannot train you unless you are able to use mana to its full extent.¡± Arson¡¯s mind tried to turn off at the sight behind his grandmother. The woman continued to speak, but the rest of her message fell on deaf ears.


    Arson couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the living forces behind his grandmother. The only one not in their natural form was the woman, and somehow she was still the hardest thing for his mind to set his eyes on and perceive in reality.


    The magnitude of power that separated him from the 11 magical masters in front of him, made it almost impossible for his body to operate normally. He was like an old computer attempting to survive at the bottom of a pool of water.


    The light master looked like a seven winged angel, but Arson couldn¡¯t tell if it was a trick of the light, but the woman seemed to grow more wings and lose them by the breath. Entire wings fell from her back like feathers from a bird.


    What Arson considered to be the most basic of the primary elements, water, fire and earth, were in reality titanic elementals. The humanoid figures flickered between the forms he had once seen, to an iceberg in motion, the inside of a volcano, and a shifting mountain.


    The entity that represented darkness, formed the shadows of all the other forces that were present, able to shape itself into any of the other beings it touched physically. But Arson couldn¡¯t help but notice the outline of a face in the joint shadows of all the monstrous beings.


    The only one of the forces that seemed normal was the man with the analog clock that ticked above his head, but Arson quickly realized it didn¡¯t matter what elemental force he looked at, a clone or copy of the man could be seen. On the shoulder of the earth elemental being. Crouched under the waterfall like hair of the water elemental, and even right next to his grandmother.


    Not only that, it seemed like the man teleported every time that Arson managed to blink or change targets visually. He felt like he¡¯d been there for an entire day as time stretched, but would have noticed that time had practically stopped, if he would have looked at his watch.


    ¡°Are you ready¡­,¡± finished Arson¡¯s grandmother. Arson¡¯s gaze was pulled back to the woman in front of the rest of the god-like beings, and he frowned not having heard the entirety of her warning, and explanation.


    ¡°What?¡± asked Arson confused. Only to immediately experience pain unlike anything he¡¯d ever felt before.


    The force of fire punched Arson in the chest so hard, that an explosion occurred around the being¡¯s fist the moment it made contact. A deep and heavy laugh could be heard as three more explosions went off. Arson felt like a pinball temporarily, and tried to fly the best he knew how in an attempt to correct his chaotic flight path.


    Arson barely took a breath before the rest of the 11 Purities were on him. He was struck by boulders that erupted from the unseen ground below. Blasted with a bolt of lightning and sound so large his heart stopped.


    Arson couldn¡¯t breathe. As his cells were being frozen by hundreds or thousands of toothpick sized shards of water and ice. He couldn¡¯t feel his body as gravity distorted his sense of direction so badly that he felt like he may end up with a concussion, even though he had not been struck in the head during the process.


    Between the light and dark entities¡¯ use of their abilities on Arson, he couldn¡¯t tell what was real, and what was nothing but a trick. He lashed out with conductive water orbs more than a handful of times, only to miss completely, or to find out what he¡¯d hit was a mere illusion.


    Arson felt on the verge of death and only grew more and more angry as each elemental struck him. They cursed and yelled at him for his weakness. Insulted him for being unable to defend himself as an heir to Omnipotence. As if they saw the lack of confidence Arson had in himself. About being a leader, about being an orphan, even his fear of unworthiness was as apparent to them as a person¡¯s hair color at a glance.


    He was an open book to them, and Arson knew that most likely had something to do with his gestation of the poisons in his system.


    Finally he was speared through the stomach with a lance of creation energy that caused his neurons to misfire sporadically. He flew through the air. Unaware of pain, and sensation. All he could feel was rage.


    He crash landed. His chest barely rose and fell with each breath. All he could see was the night sky above.


    Fear and panic caused him to rush to his feet in an attempt to escape. He blearily tried to blink through the bruises on his face while his eyes watered and his bones cracked from his movements. Only to jerk back when he realized he was nose to nose with his grandmother.


    The woman¡¯s face was a cross between serene and pure malice. Arson wobbled on his feet and nearly passed out, but refused to ever miss another word spoken by the woman in front of him.


    ¡°Welcome, child, to the true path of Cultivation. We are the 11 pure forces of existence, and you are now the disciple of the elements. Any questions?¡± Arson blinked and looked around to see the area he had been in, now was surrounded by a dome shaped barrier of energy and various colors. All that could be seen from outside the area where Arson now stood, was his grandmother.


    He only realized he was about an inch outside the edge of the first kingdom of magic¡¯s zone and this was most likely why the savage beating had ended. His heart skipped a beat at the thought that he¡¯d nearly died for power, and that he would be expected to return for more abuse.


    He spit blood on the ground and was shocked momentarily to see that it pulsed with energy and was imperceptible from the white gold of his own mana. His grandmother seemed pleased by the sight and Arson nodded as his regeneration slowly returned the ability to think straight to his faculties.


    He didn¡¯t push his rage aside, but instead used it as fuel to stay upright and focused on the words being spoken to him. This was the next level of his training, even if he didn¡¯t feel he was prepared, he would make himself ready. A conclusion he met as he stared back into the eyes that reflected his own.


    In that moment all of the other masters could be seen, not in their natural forms, but as humanoid figures once more. Gods in mortal coils, normal enough to be both conceived and witnessed by mortal eyes.


    Regardless of the unfathomable odds stacked against him Arson sneered and nodded as he took in his new teachers. Then he spoke simply.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to do better than that to break me, grandma.¡± The woman jerked back as if slapped, and Arson wondered what he¡¯d said that could make her react in such a manner. The frown she sported only made Arson want to smile more, even after he¡¯d just faced death.


    ¡°I¡¯m no one¡¯s grandma boy¡­, even if I am your mother¡¯s mother, you won¡¯t be calling me that and make it out of your training alive, that is a promise.You may call me, Momma Diana, or Mum,¡± said his grandmother.


    Arson shrugged and took a step forward. Fear of the unknown pushed him to run, while the words spoken by the Purities echoed in his mind, and pushed him forward. He wasn¡¯t going to be the weak boy the Purities believed him to be if it was up to Arson.


    ¡°Well Grandma Diana, what¡¯s next then?¡± said Arson. The woman sneered at him and Arson felt he may have made a mistake when she began to look back at the other Purities. The elemental beings all nodded and Arson felt he¡¯d confirmed he¡¯d made a mistake by the looks they gave each other alone. Then Grandma Diana looked back at him and answered.


    ¡°I think we are going to like this boy. As for you, child, only one thing is next¡­¡± Arson stayed silent, only to wish he had run when he had the chance.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to begin reforging your mortal soul, boy.¡±

 Chapter 31: Blood of Elemental Rage

    Arson knew that he had issues with his anger. He always had, and now that his entire body was elementally infused, it seemed that attribute of his nature had only been intensified.


    Arson sat mid-air and cross-legged above his nightclub. His eyes were closed and his breaths were long and slow.


    Meditation was the only thing that seemed to work on his nearly uncontrollable spurts of anger. He¡¯d spent days and still hadn¡¯t calmed down after his encounter with his grandmother and the Purities.


    He¡¯d lost more fights than he could count, but he¡¯d never been played with; or used like a toy, thrown around without a care for his longevity.


    A piece of his pride had been hurt by how badly he¡¯d been worked over. Yes, he was lucky to have survived, and yes, he had much more to learn from the Purities, but he was still frustrated.


    So he meditated. Without food, without break, for days.


    In that time he learned many things about himself. He learned that it was directly his lack of use of his stat points. As they grew, so too did his regeneration.


    It was a boon, and also a glaring weakness in Arson¡¯s foundation. In some ways it was the direct use of converted energy into stat points that fueled a Cultivator¡¯s growth. Alongside experience, and elemental affinities.


    This aspect of Arson¡¯s body made it so that his gathered stat points were better off stored in case of emergency rather than used, as his regeneration drastically increased his combat survivability. Even further he noticed that a large amount of his stat points had been drained by the experience with the Purities.


    He¡¯d thought the massive amount of points he¡¯d lost after fighting the Wretches had been due to some sort of unknown breakthrough. It wasn¡¯t the first time his body spent a large amount of points naturally. His soul¡¯s node gate stole 10,000 points in a breath.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t have even figured that out if I hadn¡¯t done the math later,¡± grumbled Arson to himself. He felt it was impossible to clear his mind. With every solved problem, came more problems yet to be seen.


    The only thing left on his mind actually filled him with hope. His nightclub was open now, and it was an absolute success. The foot traffic for the mini mall on the ground floor never stopped as they were open at all times. Neither the night owl or the early bird shopper would ever be missed if things were up to Arson, and since things were up to Arson, the club completed thousands of transactions a day.


    They sold more food and clothing than Arson would have believed possible even after a few days of being open. Xani was forced to increase her number of recyclers by almost tenfold between the clubs opening and the increased mobile sales.


    Troy hadn¡¯t taken a night off since the opening and Arson hadn¡¯t missed a single fight. He¡¯d wanted to gather back the stat points he¡¯d lost, but put all such thoughts at the back of his mind until he got used to the changes in his body.


    Arson was semi-annoyed that the sensation of being watched still hadn¡¯t left him even after he¡¯d escaped from the depths of the city, but used the pesky itch that constantly tingled at the back of his mind to train.


    He didn¡¯t have a dominion, or aura that would increase his perception as many Cultivators with completed cores did, but Arson wouldn¡¯t let that stop him from his newest project.


    He would be able to pin down any potential pursuers with ease because of how dedicated his tail was, it would only take time and practice to achieve.


    Many of his self-assigned tasks had actually been completed, with the exception of his core and the expansion of his mana pool. He believed he had found a way to naturally expand his internal resource, but feared a test because he hadn¡¯t talked it over with his mother yet.


    The longer he sat adrift, the longer he felt restless which only made him want to try all of the new ideas and experiments that currently roamed through his mind.


    The more he put off his interests, the more rage he felt. Yet another reason why he¡¯d temporarily exiled himself to the rooftop of the BHC.


    Arson had to concentrate to clear his mind. This task proved harder for Arson than anything else he¡¯d ever done.


    His mind was like a flame that flickered, or a spark that jumped from thought to thought. He couldn¡¯t even manage to count to seven because his thoughts grew louder, as they became a disruption he couldn¡¯t overcome.


    He didn¡¯t even know his fist were balled and that he roared into the night sky until he heard an unfamiliar voice speak nearby on the rooftop.


    ¡°Just like your father, eh, little like your mother too I guess,¡± said the hooded man. Arson couldn¡¯t help but notice that the sensation of eyes on his back that had persisted for nearly as long as Arson had worked at the dump, had finally diminished slightly.


    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t know that much about my dad, but I¡¯ll take that as a compliment,¡± responded Arson. He¡¯d touched down on the rooftop and crossed his arms defensively after he turned to face his uninvited guests.


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    ¡°Yes, I can tell, but at this point, I don¡¯t know if it would have been better for you to have been raised by the man, as your siblings were, or if your real potential is being refined by your lack of tutelage,¡± said the stranger. Arson sneered back at the man.


    ¡°You trying to say my adopted mother isn¡¯t good enough,¡± asked Arson as two conductive water orbs formed in his palms.


    ¡°Calm down young master,¡± said the man with a laugh.


    ¡°I would never speak on the Maiden¡¯s Heir in such a way. From what I understand you were only just returned to your birth mother after you found her recently anyway,¡± said the man, and Arson¡¯s eyes went wide. He quickly tried to disguise his surprise with a scowl, but the man¡¯s laughter told Arson he¡¯d been seen through.


    ¡°Don¡¯t frown child, it makes your forehead wrinkle and will age you visually even if you do manage to obtain immortality as your parents have,¡± said the man. Arson felt a spike of rage, and had to close his eyes and take a deep breath before he could respond.


    ¡°Are you okay, young master,¡± said the man. Arson gritted his teeth and breathed out slowly.


    ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t know what is going on with me, I can barely think straight, and to top things off, I¡¯m tired of being the only person who doesn¡¯t know a thing about my family, and now you¡¯re telling me the woman that I have accepted as my adopted mother is my actual mother, how do you expect me to believe that,¡± said Arson. He¡¯d suspected he was linked to Jade somehow. Maybe she was an aunt or half sister even, but his mother? He¡¯d never have guessed that, even after he saw the eyes of his grandmother, which only made more sense now.


    ¡°Ha! The half dragon is wondering why his blood boils, and he can¡¯t think straight,¡± said the man.


    ¡°What do you mean half dragon?¡± Arson felt his confusion override his anger. Whatever fueled his rage was powerful, but not more powerful than Arson¡¯s thirst for knowledge.


    ¡°You are the child of Draphen LightLord, the first imperial dragon to be born in eons, the blood of dragons naturally causes irrational mood swings, the king at your age would have violent blackouts even before he¡¯d regained his stripped abilities back, I have been his attendant ever since.¡± Arson nodded along, but only had more questions. He hated how important his family was, as most of the names and titles used grew more convoluted and numerous, the more important the figure being described was.


    ¡°What does that make you, his servant, bodyguard, teacher, maybe an advisor of sorts?¡± It was the man¡¯s turn to nod at Arson.


    ¡°I am Seneschal. As to your question, I am all of those things, or should I say, I was at least, over the last season cycle your father has had me working for each of your siblings to see which of them I should take on as my newest charge,¡± said Seneschal. Arson scoffed, a tendency he¡¯d picked up from his mother. A fact that made the strange man in front of him smile so wide that his mouth could be seen in the moon light underneath the darkness of his hood.


    ¡°So¡­¡±


    ¡°So I am here to see if my newest charge will be you or not¡­,¡± said Seneschal. Arson barked a laugh and shook his head before the man could continue any further.


    ¡°You must have the wrong person, I¡¯m no longer an heir to the royal family,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t, yes, but since you completed the task given by the system to you at birth, all restrictions that were placed on you, have been lifted,¡± said Seneschal.


    ¡°Restrictions from the system? What the sparks are you talking about?¡± asked Arson. Seneschal sighed heavily and Arson got the feeling the man rolled his eyes at him.


    ¡°Your Overlay, is the mind of Uni-Vare, the collection of all knowledge known to creation, yes, that is a simplified version of this explanation, and yes, I will teach you more about these matters if you allow for me to,¡± said Seneschal. All of the information Arson received was more than a boy his age should have, but much of it only expanded his understanding, rather than being new. Not that he truly believed a single word the man said to him.


    ¡°Allow, you say that as if I am already in charge of you?¡± The man looked away and Arson got the odd sense that what he¡¯d said may actually be true.


    ¡°Not exactly¡­¡±


    ¡°Ok, then explain dude. I¡¯m not the type to have entire conversations with weird men on rooftops for fun,¡± said Arson. The sigh that came from the man was even more exaggerated than the last.


    ¡°I have followed all of your siblings for a period of time, and you know what none of them did that you have,¡± asked Seneschal. Arson shook his head and gestured for the man to continue.


    ¡°None of them knew I was shadowing them. Honestly, even your stepmother the queen still occasionally struggles to sense my presence, but when I approached you just now, you knew I was coming, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I did, felt like you have been following me for almost a whole season now, but there is nothing special about that, your mana makes my skin itch, I think,¡± said Arson. He¡¯d assumed that it was foreign mana that disrupted his senses, and confirmed it when Seneschal both nodded and laughed at his comment.


    ¡°That is probably because you also have been poisoned by darkness as I have, any Cultivator with similar mana types will cause different reactions in your body naturally,¡± stated Seneschal. Arson didn¡¯t like how much the man knew about him, but realized he¡¯d been followed for weeks and hadn¡¯t slept with the exception being the few times he knocked himself out through a Cultivation practice.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s in it for me?¡±


    ¡°Other than the almost unrivaled training I can offer you in espionage and stealth craft, there are a lot of perks that come with my service that I can only admit I offer, after we¡¯ve formed a contract.¡± Arson didn¡¯t like how the man put an emphasis on the word contract, but feared very little when it came to oaths made by Cultivators and their Overlays. Besides, Xani would check any document for nefarious details before Arson would sign his soul away accidentally.


    ¡°I¡¯m also trying to find a grandmaster gadgeteer, would you be able to help with something like that?¡±


    ¡°Why yes, I would,¡± said Seneschal with an even larger smile. Arson immediately began to contemplate the choice and even managed to scan over the e-document¡¯s summary page before he sent it over to Xani to look over.


    The girl was shocked by what she read and began to spam text his holo-watch. The responses from his rival made him laugh for the first time in days.


    ¡°What the sparks are you bothering me with now?¡±


    ¡°Ooh, what is this now¡­¡± Arson wondered if Xani gave half of her attention to reading his message, and her given responses. Only to realize Xani could split her attention almost 12 fold at her current state of development.


    ¡°You know this is an updated slave contract, right?¡± Arson frowned at the message, then glanced at Seneschal before Xani rapidly fired even more details.


    ¡°Arson, where are you right now? Never mind, don¡¯t answer that. I¡¯m sending Khalif!¡± Arson¡¯s eyes went wide at her reaction, but Seneschal still stood with a smile.


    ¡°What is a slave contract? Are you trying to make me your slave?¡±


    ¡°No, young master, I am offering myself as your own, and there is nothing more concrete than a slave contract, with this you will never have to worry about being betrayed by me or any of my own,¡± explained Seneschal. Arson nodded, then continued to read Xani¡¯s messages.


    ¡°Hmmm, I don¡¯t know if this is good or bad, but are you trying to get an elder demon or ancient immortal to become your slave?¡± Arson tried not to be shocked by Xani¡¯s text, but the more he read, the more he wondered if he should proceed any further with his father¡¯s¡­ butler?


    He wondered what kind of people his father would have serve him, as his mother didn¡¯t seem to have anyone close to her. With him being the only exception.


    I guess it makes sense that powerful people are most likely surrounded by potentially as powerful entities¡­


    ¡°I have Khalif and three other teams nearby, just give me the word and we will try and extract you, boss. otherwise, this contract seems way to good to be true, even I would have trouble declining it, boss,¡± mumbled Arson while he read. He quickly responded with an affirmative, before he walked over to Seneschal. Arson extended his hand and the man extended his own gloved fist. They fist bumped, and Arson accepted the contract, only for Seneschal to take a knee in the next breath.


    ¡°My lord, how shall we begin,¡± said Seneschal. Arson laughed and nodded to himself. His mind begun to work correctly after being completely distracted by the man¡­ or demon in front of him.


    ¡°Give me a moment,¡± said Arson as his mind calmed enough to split his attention three ways for the first time since he¡¯d interacted with the 11 Purities.


    ¡°Well, now that I have your allegiance, tell me about my brothers and sisters.¡±

 Chapter 32: A Broken System

    The next few days made Arson think differently about his entire situation. With the help of his new information broker, Seneschal, Arson¡¯s actions carried more weight.


    The normal lack of information, or the misinformation given by local media, no longer had a deep impact on his business choices.


    He hadn¡¯t gained any real concrete information about his siblings, as the members of his family were untouchable as stated in Seneschal¡¯s contract. The man wasn¡¯t allowed to trade in any information he¡¯d gained before the beginning of their own contract, which Arson didn¡¯t mind.


    He¡¯d learned so much about his family that he felt the weight of the crown that floated above his head that much more. His mother was suggested to be the next in line for the mantle of Mother Nature, and his father, was potentially the next Father Time. These two mantles weren¡¯t, given, they were ascended into, another reason why he feared the crown.


    The thought that his mother could be his mother, didn¡¯t take him long to believe after Seneschal explained what occurred just before and after his birth from his own perspective.


    Jade was his father¡¯s only rival. The two were separated from time itself in a realm of chaos for decades and forced to fight an endless battle.


    A battle that both eventually gave up on. His mother had lost her only love just before being ripped from time, and his father believed they would never escape the realm they¡¯d been pulled into.


    None were surprised that the two managed to escape in the end. What surprised them was the pregnant Jade who stayed pregnant for a few centuries.


    Apparently once they returned to the realm, Jade excused his father from their relationship, under the assumption that he¡¯d only loved her for the period of their separation from society. While the king missed Jade more and more with every day that passed.


    Arson understood why the two didn¡¯t push for a relationship after Seneschal explained Cultivators, and their families. Nor did he think he minded his parents not being together. What he minded was why everyone thought he¡¯d done some magical feat by finding Jade.


    He began to think the action was predetermined long before he¡¯d made it. For years he¡¯d bothered Almarine about jobs, and where he could go, and she¡¯d shut down practically every suggestion he¡¯d had. Until he¡¯d started his core and asked about the dump, nearly as a joke, and Almarine had been okay with it.


    In the moment he hadn¡¯t realized how strange her acceptance of his choice had been. Now under further study, everything about that encounter had been strange. Only he¡¯d been too distressed about no longer being able to attend the public college for potential Cultivators.


    He¡¯d thought his adoption had been a result of his actions, but now felt he played in the dirt as his mother had plotted on his return.


    Time was nothing to the woman. She¡¯d chosen permanence over the battle lands of the gods, and so had his father.


    He¡¯d thought he¡¯d been given away because of laws that mandated that families couldn¡¯t exceed 6 children, but truly it had been another exception entirely.


    Immortals weren¡¯t allowed to raise their own children. The friendship of immortals was already frowned upon, as the imbalance of power that led to their offspring often ended worlds.


    Arson believed his mother, father, or someone else had a hand in his return to her. As the odds were highly unlikely otherwise.


    Arson had big plans at the orphanage, but had only ever dreamed in the perspective of things that were good for the orphanage.


    Did you push me home, Almarine, but why, wouldn¡¯t you have the most to lose?


    He talked big, but he knew himself. He didn¡¯t plan on becoming a prized fighter back then, nor did he now. He probably would have stayed in school until it only made sense to pay him as much as it would take to comfortably pay off whatever grad school he attended. All in order to give back to the orphanage.


    What was it about me that made you do it?


    Arson didn¡¯t believe for a second that Almarine would have given up the chance on being tied to Arson, as she loved the orphanage, and so did he. She tied herself to all the children that aspired to live for more than themselves, but something about Arson pushed her to send him back to his own mother.


    The system demanded that Arson be cast away at birth, and only allowed to experience the life of his birth family, if his path crossed back into their own folds by chance or external force.


    Arson looked at himself in the mirror and tilted his head as his eyes caught his crown above his head. He smiled, then frowned. Both because he realized he now rather enjoyed his crown, but also that Almarine¡¯s reason was obvious.


    The weight of raising children was already grand, but the weight of raising a potential ruler, was far from simple. Arson would understand not wanting to be tied to tasks so lofty, as he himself felt far from what he thought a ruler to be.


    Especially after learning about some of his parents¡¯ feats at his age. Both had been taken to a dead realm known as Earth to train. One in a Chinese prison, and the other as a corporate spy in Japan. Arson had no idea what some of the aspects of the story involved, but regardless the intensity of both claims was overwhelming.


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    His father had no abilities in a land where internal power was only just being realized, only to be imprisonedin a place where all the strongest of Cultivators had been imprisoned. The art of Cultivation still illegal at that time.


    His mother escaped to Japan at the same age after she¡¯d committed her first act of public terrorism, and blown up something called the Birge Khalifa, a small building the planet called a wonder for some reason.


    Lots of what his mother had done was either too masked in mystery for Seneschal to truly know the details about, or literally realm secrets that no one alive knew. Or would ever dare to speak about.


    ¡°With how powerful you are, Mom, I bet he knows a lot more and is¡­ just too scared to tell me,¡± said Arson with a sigh as he left the bathroom and entered the kitchen to begin his first cooking lesson with his mother.


    ¡°Welcome,¡± said Jade as Arson entered. He smiled and bowed slightly to her before he quickly got in line for the lesson with the new recruits for The Crew.


    The lesson went smoothly. They took time to learn kitchen safety, and spent a large amount of time on cleanliness and operating procedures while in the kitchen.


    Arson enjoyed the time spent on knife skills and learned how to dice various fruits and vegetables over the majority of his first lesson. The samples were his favorite part, and he ignored the looks the new recruits gave him as he quickly picked up the skills involved.


    Apparently both of his parents were chefs, a fact he learned by talking with his mother as he chopped away, barely giving the food in front of him his full attention.


    He¡¯d given one section of his three-part mind to cooking, another to his conversation, and the final to his plans later that day.


    So when he asked about his father¡¯s skills in the kitchen. It was easy to assume the fact that both his parents had cooked together after she stated how surprised she was by his abilities, it was actually him who started her on her path in the culinary arts.


    ¡°Wow,¡± said the members of the class as Arson nodded dropped jawed at the statement. In his mind, there was no better chef in the world than his mother, and he even stated as much.


    ¡°I never said that I hadn¡¯t surpassed him, I only gave him the credit he was owed originally,¡± said his mother with a blush.


    After a while things went silent and the class practiced individually on what they¡¯d learned, and Arson bothered his mother to continue his lesson as they talked.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, kiddo? You were in the middle of a sentence you know?¡± Arson shook his head slightly, before he looked at Jade and smiled.


    ¡°Sorry, trying to push myself, but I am truly stuck at three folds for now, tried to add a fourth to start developing a side project, it will have to wait,¡± said Arson. His mother returned his smile.


    ¡°Good, keep it up, it will come, maybe we can shift the focus of our conversation in the direction of this side project temporarily and come back to the lesson,¡± asked Jade. Arson nodded in excitement and quickly jumped into what he wanted to work on.


    ¡°Ok, so for now I can¡¯t truly use magic until I complete my core, yes, but the degree of my skill control seems far more adaptive than normal, so I am going to start far smaller and create something that I think will be far more useful than just a huge and violent attack, I can¡¯t help but think I could have done something to fare better against the Wretches and the Purities,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Arson, I occasionally train with the Purities, it is only seen as a tempering area by those with a death wish or who have an immense affinity for magic, and seeing how three different elements chose to poison you at once without your consent, shows a lot.¡± Arson scrunched up his face in confusion and his mother continued.


    ¡°Up until you chose gravity, you had perfectly aligned the elements in a way that perfectly synchronized with your genes, and being. Instead of allowing you to intake the wrong energies in the wrong order, which is necessary for a strong soul refinement, they forced the best fit on your body, they only do those types of things for a rare few. Trust me.¡±


    ¡°What exactly is soul refinement?¡±


    ¡°The simplest way of putting this, is turning your soul¡¯s regular flow, into an immortal structure or engine of sorts.¡± Arson nodded and was even more excited by the concept. Then wondered if the Purities intended on beating the lessons into him, and shivered slightly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, son, I don¡¯t plan on letting you train in that area for a while, I think you need some external training first anyway. As for this skill you are developing, is there any way I can help you?¡± Arson thought for a moment then nodded.


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Arson as he put down the knife he held and extended his open palm face down above the utensil.


    ¡°I want to make my own summon of sorts,¡± said Arson as a small orb of conductive water begun to form in the air above the knife.


    ¡°Something that can help me complete tasks and be useful in combat,¡± stated Arson while the orb¡¯s shape transformed. The energy orb began to grow child like fingers and its main structure or body thinned until the orb looked like an exact replica of Arson¡¯s own hand.


    The hand floated down to the knife, and picked it up. Arson strained to focus, and speak, while the knife held by the energy construct begun to cut fruit once more.


    ¡°For the most part, I¡¯ve gotten the creation of the hand down, the only problem I am having now, is giving the construct a life of its own, as far as I can tell, all I¡¯ve gotten close to doing is imbuing the action I want completed, or thoughts of basic activities I hold in my mind during its creation,¡± said Arson. He dropped his own hand back to the table as he began to sweat from mental exertion.


    ¡°To be honest, son, this is rather impressive already, especially at your age,¡± responded his mother. Arson looked up to Jade, and wasn¡¯t able to stay disgruntled over his assumed shortcomings while his mom smiled down at him.


    ¡°Thanks Mom, but I don¡¯t know why this is so hard, the other skill I¡¯d been creating was ten times bigger than this one in scale, but came far more easily to me and I wasn¡¯t even near to completing it as I am this new one,¡± said Arson with a point at the hand. It still cut fruit and had run out of produce to dismantle, but remained in motion as if it merely needed more to do.


    ¡°So what is your full intention for this new skill,¡± asked Jade. Arson frowned for a moment, only to truly think about what he was being asked. As he thought he¡¯d already answered a question along the same lines as this one. Only to realize his mother meant in a deeper sense than what he wanted the construct to do, but how he intended to make the skill functional.


    ¡°I guess I am trying to figure out how to give life to an item or maybe connect the construct to myself and make it so the action or actions I need the hand, or hands to do, to be as changeable and fluid as my own thoughts,¡± said Arson with a frown that turned into a smile.


    ¡°Hmmm, by that smile I believe that you may have thought of something,¡± asked Jade.


    ¡°Yeah, two things actually, I¡¯m beginning to wonder if I can use creation manna as a base for a runic system similar to the recyclers, but I don¡¯t know enough about runes, arrays, and formations to achieve it alone,¡± said Arson with a sigh.


    ¡°You have plenty of people willing to help you, my son, that shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Arson shook his head at his mother before he spoke up once more.


    ¡°I want to do this alone, this is my thing. Troy can fight, Jasmine is fashionable, Xani can build anything, Khalif is sneaky and Rob might need to become an alchemist with how impressive his cooking skill has become, I want to be able to bring something to the table besides being lucky and seen as wealthy,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Well, regardless of how you feel, I am proud of the things you have achieved in our short time together, I honestly didn¡¯t know what my life was missing until you filled my home with all these youthful minds and presences, I believe you are seen as far more than wealthy and lucky already, but I know what it is to not see one¡¯s self, but don¡¯t frown,¡± said Jade as she put a hand on Arson¡¯s shoulder and the two made eye contact.


    ¡°I believe in you, and so do your friends, as for your skill, I think you are on the right track. Your father and even my own father were grand builders, architects, gadgeteers and more, I wish I had more to offer but have truly never crafted anything beyond portals and dimensional pockets, but I do have one suggestion,¡± said Jade with a pause that built suspense. So much in fact that the room went silent at her words.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overcomplicate things, analyze, think, move, that is all there is to it.¡± Arson smiled wide and even created a mantra built from his mother¡¯s words mentally that would forever change his life. He hugged his mother quickly and was going to run out of the room embarrassed, but his mother stopped him and spoke once more before he had a chance to make it out the door.


    ¡°Hey, Arson?¡± He turned back around and smiled once more at his mother.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking, and you wouldn¡¯t want a bedroom by chance, would you?¡±

 Chapter 33: Living Hands & Untrained Gods

    Arson sat in his room. His first room. He¡¯d been so wrapped up with all the changes in his life, he hadn¡¯t even thought of anything as grand as his own room.


    He filled it with all the treasures he found in the dump and had restored by recyclers. Troy helped him move in, and hadn¡¯t stopped the endless jokes about his situation since they¡¯d started.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t see it, how could every member of the BHC and even most of our employees have a room on sight, either here or at the BHC satellite locations, excluding you!¡± The young lady was in tears and Arson rolled his eyes after she repeated herself for about the third time.


    ¡°I don¡¯t sleep unless injured and any time that happened I woke up in a strange bed, beds I assumed belonged to other people,¡± said Arson. Troy stopped her destruction of his tidy triple king sized bed. She¡¯d jumped on it almost to the point of injury when she nearly smashed into the ceilings far above, but continued to whoop in celebration before she shrugged mid air and responded.


    ¡°Jade gave me a room connected to my soul after like a week of being here, buddy. Are you sure you weren¡¯t just scared to ask, I know how you get sometimes when you feel like you are in the way?¡±


    Arson sighed and thought for a moment. He knew Troy was right, he probably didn¡¯t want to get sent home by asking too much of Jade, and even though she¡¯d already given him use of land, gifts of knowledge and more, somehow a room still felt much more personal of a request than he was accustomed to asking for.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Whatever! I have a room now, and it¡¯s better than yours, so ha!¡± The two stuck their tongues out at each other and Arson continued to unpack.


    He¡¯d apparently acquired a lot of items. His unfinished Living Hands helped, as the two he managed to form pulled items endlessly out of the open pocket apartment building he¡¯d converted into storage after he¡¯d managed to fill his watch¡¯s inventory space.


    Since his mana pool hadn¡¯t grown yet, neither had the small storage space which Arson only called small because of the apartment building he walked around with in his pocket to compare the space too. He tried not to feel like his sense of normalcy wasn¡¯t distorted by his new life, but knew it had been greatly.


    ¡°Man, those things are so sparking cool,¡± said Troy. She¡¯d stopped her aerial acrobatics and stared at the two hands. Both struggled temporarily to pull a massive great sword from the portal mouth, until the weapon popped free and the two continued to work as Arson organized the items they set down in his room.


    ¡°Yeah, but I have a lot of upgrades planned before I start to give them out to you all for use,¡± said Arson. Troy¡¯s eyes lit up at his comment and she even stopped what she was doing long enough to respond.


    ¡°Not going to lie, I¡¯m super excited for that, the combat applications alone¡­¡± She shrieked in excitement and the two moved on to the planned vacation details that they¡¯d put off for as long as they could. It didn¡¯t take the two long to figure things out, and even confirmed with the rest of the BHC¡¯s head members that they were all going.


    Arson wasn¡¯t truly all that excited for the trip. He¡¯d never left Maelstrom¡¯s Old Town sectors, and had barely spent time in the city while he trained in the dump.


    As he looked outside of his window, he couldn¡¯t help but smile at the changed view around him. All of the work he and the orphans had done, became more and more apparent as time passed.


    Normally, the area that had surrounded the empty warehouse Jade used as a base of operation was enclosed by heaps of trash and debris. Now, the area had a decently sized garden, and trails that led to the warehouse from all directions. With fields of crops that formed a ring around the perimeter of the now perfectly landscaped area.


    He knew he had a lot more work to do, but couldn¡¯t help but be slightly proud of himself. He slowly made his way to the dump as the sun set with plans to both unlock a new skill, as well as test his Living Hands in combat for the first time.


    ¡°Okay, Arson, it¡¯s time to kick some sparking rust buckets in the face,¡± said Arson to himself as he clenched and unclenched his fist.


    He made his way toward where he knew the most living Olympian Armors could be found. He was honestly shocked to find a group of 13 of the armors all in one place. He stood atop a trash heap and counted the amount of total enemies in the area.


    Even though there were more than enough of the Olympian Armors to test his might against, he worried over the excess of extra foes that patrolled around the group. He didn¡¯t believe he could take on a group that large, and wondered if he should clear out all the enemies that separated him from the group first.


    How close can I get before they run me down though¡­?


    Arson glanced at one of his two Living Hands that floated just above and behind his shoulder and got an idea. He didn¡¯t know how much his untested skill could lift, and felt an experiment should be done.


    He gave an entire fold of his mind to the chosen hand, and gave it the task to bring a single opponent back to him. There were robots, other armors, and even a few ghosts between Arson and the Olympians that made for perfect test subjects.


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    When the Living Hand pulled a robot off its feet and yanked its body through the air at high speeds toward Arson he wondered if he should have been more specific with his given command.


    ¡°By the sparks of the maiden, can I truly never catch a break?¡± said Arson as ten more robots scrambled after their brethren bot, while its arms and legs flailed frantically through the air.


    Arson now knew factually that his skill could lift and move his current opponent. He also knew that his attempted separation of single opponents from groups would need work.


    Arson crouched and prepared for the group that charged up the trash heap he¡¯d stationed himself on. He timed his strike perfectly, and smashed a conductive water orb through the back of the robot being air lifted toward him. With a roar he flung the robot aside and prepared for the rest of the bots that were nearly to him, when he realized his Living Hand flew passed the group in front of him and toward another group of enemies.


    ¡°Oh for spark¡¯s sake,¡± grumbled Arson.


    In the next instant he set his second Living Hand toward his own defense and was shocked by what occurred. Arson punched a robot aside, and before the bot hit the ground, his Living Hand wrapped around its ankle and smashed it into the next enemy like a robot sized great hammer.


    The next bot exploded into parts and sparks, as Arson yelled in victory and the real combat began in earnest.


    He set his second Living Hand toward offensive measures, but not before the skill managed to pull another robot off the ground. The moment he gave the new command, the hand smashed the bot it held by the neck into the back of the first crowd that charged Arson.


    He spun through his enemies. His hands full of conductive water orbs, as two semi Living Hands, both fought and defended him.


    When he struck opponents, some were frozen as others were electrified. He fired a few orbs, and marveled at how his creations plucked foes from the air after the explosions occurred.


    Bodies of robots exploded everywhere, and Arson covered his face from the storm of dirt that was blown about. An unseen opponent came from behind Arson, and kicked him hard enough to send him sprawling. By the time he¡¯d gotten to his feet, he was already being charged by the same robot, but his offensive construct moved more quickly.


    Arson watched as his Living Hand shot forth and clapped palm first into the face of the robot, he slowed his perception slightly to see what occurred and was again shocked by what he saw.


    The hand surged into any hole it touched. Its hand like form broke down temporarily and moved like the water it was created from and completely entered the head of the robot.


    An explosion of lightning and frost bursted out and the robots head was blown apart. Arson thought he¡¯d lost the created hand, only to find it where the robots head had been a breath later.


    Did it reconstitute itself, rather than feed me the mana?


    Arson¡¯s mana fluctuated so rapidly he could never tell where the mana came from during combat. As he used a lot of mana, had an incredibly high regeneration even at night, and his skills even stole some from his opponents on contact.


    Arson had never received mana from the robots before, and realized the hand must have used his mana to pull off its last trick. It continued to fight, and Arson watched as it pulled off the same stunt a handful more times.


    Wait, are the hands getting smarter the more I use them?


    Arson watched the hand he¡¯d assigned mentally as his defensive hand, use a palm strike to launch a robot into the path of the offensive hand.


    The offensive hand then, grabbed the same robot by the neck, before it caused it to explode the moment it neared Arson¡¯s last three opponents.


    It was now Arson who charged. He tried to make sure he was as far away from his much more dangerous opposition nearby, when his mind began to drift.


    He wondered why so many Olympian Armors were actually idle in one place. He hadn¡¯t entered any of the zones, or dominions that could be found throughout the dump and junkyard at night. He often trained in those zones, and knew where they were.


    Or assumed he did, he wanted to pull out his map and check but still had two robots left to deal with. Alongside his two Living Hands, it only took a moment.


    ¡°Are you still not talking to me,¡± said Anastasia as Arson pulled up his map of the area.


    ¡°No Anastasia, not until I tell on myself and my Mom says it¡¯s okay,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°But why tell on yourself, she probably already knows anyway,¡± said his AI. The intellect¡¯s face drifted around the rim of the map¡¯s border as she spoke to Arson.


    ¡°Why because you told her already, didn¡¯t know I had a snitch around my wrist,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Wow, how offensive, true, but still offensive¡­.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Arson looked away from the map and toward Anastasia¡¯s face. The woman froze as if caught doing something inappropriate. Only for Arson¡¯s glare to deepen and her to wince further.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m the main datapoint for your mother¡¯s network sooo¡­¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°So¡­ what? What exactly are you telling me?¡± Arson hoped he was wrong but his gut told him he wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, you¡¯re not the only one I¡¯m spying on for your mother, I guess that is the best way of me putting it,¡± stated Anastasia with a huge grin.


    ¡°So how many people is my mom spying on?¡±


    ¡°Guess, guess how big a number it is, wait no you¡¯re good with numbers, guess how many, but you only get to use one word,¡± responded Anastasia.


    ¡°Everyone?¡±


    ¡°Sparks, you¡¯re good with words too I guess, but at least you are talking to me now,¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you, Anna,¡± said Arson as a shadow loomed over him from behind.


    ¡°So you don¡¯t want me to tell you that you are in an unmarked red zone, got it, also your skill doesn¡¯t work when you¡¯re not concentrating on it, won¡¯t tell ya that either, bucko!¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t turn fast enough to stop the first heel drop and was smashed into the ground by an Olympian Armor. Luckily for Arson he was far enough away from the rest of the armors that he only drew one close. Unluckily for Arson, he was in a red zone.


    The zones that his mother and the keepers strong enough to survive trained in. This zone hadn¡¯t quite matured to the point of truly being a red zone, thus why his mother hadn¡¯t marked it.


    Since his mother¡¯s last scan of the area though, an entrance to the structures below the dump and junkyard had opened after one of the more chaotic battles in that section of the dump which drew in far more deadly entities.


    His Living Hand of defense tried to stop the next attack and was obliterated by the single downward punch the Armor threw at Arson. He barely managed to roll out of the way, and turned to take flight. Only for the Olympian Armor to blur and wrap him up by his mid-section.


    Arson punched and kicked, but it was futile. Even his fully empowered conductive water orbs splashed uselessly down the armor as it carried Arson toward its fellows. The other Armors that surrounded a portal that Arson hadn¡¯t seen before he¡¯d been carried closer.


    Arson feared the worse as they closed in on the portal. Originally he¡¯d thought the Armors were going to rip him limb from limb, or fold him like a pretzel, but none of the other armors came closer as they approached the center. Which meant his worst fear was most likely true.


    ¡°You know,¡± said Anastasia with a slight pause.


    ¡°Not now, Anna!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying kid, if we were talking I would let you know that I could send your location to your mom or a friend and maybe get you out of this obviously terrible situation, but no¡­!¡±


    ¡°If you weren¡¯t an evil sparking machine, you would have done that already!¡±

 Chapter 35: Completionist

    Arson had never felt as much mana as he did in front of the smaller of the two archways that led into the runic skyscraper.


    The air around him felt dense to the point that he felt restricted as he ran up what could have been a thousand steps. He wondered if the gravity in the area would increase as the mana density rose.


    Arson felt the effects of not constantly being pumped with mana already. He was tired in a way that he hadn¡¯t been for what felt like to him to be a lifetime ago. He briefly wondered if he could practice the new breathing technique he¡¯d been taught as he ran, but was too tired to concentrate on more than his next step.


    When he made it to the top of the stairs, he collapsed, just as a hologram was spit free from his holo-watch. He rolled on his back to see Anastasia. The woman danced above him in the air as she sang to a crowd that did not exist.


    ¡°I got me a body, I got me a body, I got me a body,¡± sang Anastasia.


    ¡°How exactly do you have a body?¡± Arson was glad for the woman, but honestly confused as to what had just occurred.


    ¡°It¡¯s the arrays, or formations, not entirely sure how that works. I¡¯m not a magical programmer, what I do know is that I was selected as your chosen avatar for this trial.¡±


    ¡°So not only are you a sparking demon that I can¡¯t get rid of, you are now going to be what, my guide through this entire place?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and you will accept that and be happy or I will make sure this place kills you, fair enough?¡±


    ¡°What¡­ no, not fair, not fair at all,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Hey PRO, you got any back up AI¡¯s I can use,¡± hollered Arson before Anastasia began to shush him.


    ¡°Alright alright, chill, chill, I¡¯ll be cool I promise,¡± said Anastasia quickly.


    ¡°You promise?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I promise, kiddo,¡± said Anastasia. Arson tried not to be bothered, but he¡¯d only let his friends and mother call him that. He almost said something he may regret, but thought of the woman¡¯s threat earlier and changed his mind.


    ¡°So what is next?¡± asked Arson. His scowl intensified by the stars that spun in his eyes.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± said Anastasia before she skipped away in excitement. Arson couldn¡¯t help but to once again roll his eyes at the AI¡¯s antics.


    He followed at a jog behind Anastasia, for what felt like multiple sport stadium lengths, and realized he wasn¡¯t in the kind of shape he¡¯d once assumed he was.


    They closed in on the smaller of the two archways, and Arson was even more shocked by the proportions of the building. It was as they arrived at a large platform just within the archway that Anastasia began to explain.


    ¡°So this is where you will enter, as you are a humanoid type being, and don¡¯t fit the monstrous or gigantic form factors required to use the other entrance yet,¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°Yet, what do you mean, I¡¯d never be as large as a sparking building,¡± stated Arson.


    ¡°It¡¯s not only about size, but also about internal power, your mother and father would have to use the other entryway,¡± explained Anastasia. Arson nodded with sudden understanding and continued toward the center of the platform. Once there, Anastasia spoke up again.


    ¡°So to start you have to choose what path you want to take,¡± said Anastasia and three etherial doorways made of light opened and the AI pointed toward the first of three.


    ¡°The path most favorable,¡± said Anastasia, With an exaggerated gesture toward the middle doorway.


    ¡°The path lost to time?¡± Then she pointed toward the final doorway with a huge smile.


    ¡°OR the least favorable path, the path undiscovered,¡± finished Anastasia.


    Arson took his time and looked at each doorway. Each one had a rune that floated at its center. All were largely different in characteristics.


    The first was a lit gold that shimmered in a tribalistic halo of light. An image of the sun. Simple, but it drew Arson¡¯s focus in a way that made it difficult for him to look away.


    Then there was the second door. Arson was intrigued by the rune of this door, because of the two pillars made out of diamond that stood parallel to either side of a multi colored portal. Runes inscribed the rune itself which made Arson excited to see what that option held.


    When Arson took in the last choice, he felt his decision was made for him immediately. The doorway held an image of a lemniscate formed out of stars, Arson pointed to ask a question, and simultaneously made a choice.


    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that my mom¡¯s crest?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s your family¡¯s crest. Good choice, kid. Who doesn¡¯t like hard mode!¡± Anastasia cackled, before she made eye contact with Arson, who glared back at her while light consumed them both.


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you funny, you did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡±


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    ¡°Of course I did, trust me, kid. You¡¯ll thank me later, not like we don¡¯t have four whole season cycles to figure this sparking place out!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean four season cycles? Almarine is going to be back in four days,¡± said Arson who was forced to raise his voice. The lights around them were accompanied by a sound like a turbine engine. As the lights grew in number and color, so grew the sound around them.


    ¡°Have you checked the time yet, bucko? Time moves differently here. For every day outside, we got a whole season cycle in here. Bet we haven¡¯t even been gone for a handful of breaths,¡± screamed Anastasia. Arson looked at his watch and cursed.


    Their bodies burst into light as they were taken to a new destination. When they rematerialized, Arson found himself at the back of a large classroom. Students teleported in and out of chairs all around him. Arson didn¡¯t understand what was going on until a prompt popped up, and told him.


    ¡°1-0. Understand the circle?¡± Arson was even more confused. He decided to look around and eventually found a screen at the front of the classroom with what he needed.


    ¡°1. What about a circle is powerful when it comes to rune craft, 2. Is it superior to a square or triangle, 3. What does it truly offer comparatively?¡±


    ¡°This your first trial?¡± asked a voice nearby. Arson turned around to see a young man with his feet up on another desk. He stared at the board intensely, his brown eyes barely visible underneath his long hair.


    ¡°Yeah, doesn¡¯t seem so bad though, it¡¯s just about circles right, can¡¯t be all that bad, I kinda love circles, makes me think of donuts,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Wow, I thought I had crap luck by gettingthis as my first trial, everyone I¡¯ve asked says if this is your first trial the gods hate you,¡± said the young man. Arson looked back at the board and realized, the prompt could be a question that needed a very specific answer, and he could end up stuck in the room without that answer.


    He looked around and confirmed the room had no exit and then back to the boy and opened his mouth to scream, but forced it down. He needed to focus, not panic.


    He tried to look at the board again, then at his watch only to see no time had passed, and real panic seized his heart and he fainted.


    ¡°Welcome back, said the young man behind Arson. Arson lifted his head off the desk in front of him, and looked around. In a daze he looked at the board at the front of the class and read the display once more.


    ¡°I like circles because they represent all directions at once,¡± said Arson to himself as joke. His laugh was smothered by the sound of a turbine, and Arson cocked his head to the side in the same moment.


    ¡°No way,¡± said Arson a breath before a light enveloped him and whisked him away.


    And so it went. Arson finished room after room until he¡¯d apparently finished what he assumed to be the runic alphabet, which pretty much consisted of circles, squares, and triangles. He learned that a line was only second to a curve in regards to the importance of shaping runes.


    He also learned that practically any structure could be made with his basic tool set and began to learn how to construct runes in many different ways.


    Some of the scenarios left Arson in a random workshop or school or in places Arson couldn¡¯t have ever imagined in his wildest dreams.


    He was shown runes that did the exact same thing in mechanism, but were completely different in structure. Which only opened Arson¡¯s mind in different ways.


    Then he came across his first test. He read the prompt and looked at the area in utter suspicion.


    ¡°101-0. Gain as many treasures as you can without death, the more open chests, the grander the final reward.¡±


    At least I am getting a reward for this one¡­


    ¡°Be careful, this doesn¡¯t look as simple as the previous trials we have faced,¡± said Anastasia. Arson nodded, as their relationship had changed drastically. While Arson demanded more and more from the AI, from note denotation and transcribing, Anastasia seemed to play around far less. Which made Arson respect the AI more.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°There are holes throughout the room, and where they are placed gives me trap vibes, I suggest the use of your living hands for this room, hopefully the trial doesn¡¯t make you move any more forward.¡± Arson nodded, and summoned his three living hands. He¡¯d nearly completed the constructs and had even began to incorporate runes into their direct use.


    Instead of the basic hands that had once been made entirely of electrified water, his living hands, now supported all the elements he¡¯d been aligned with. Arson could tell he was on the verge of the abilities completion, and marveled at the now white gold hands that floated around his mid section.


    Each hand was inscribed with different runes, and were primarily used for the completion of different tasks. Whereas rune inscription was normally a difficult and rigid operation of magic, Arson¡¯s creations were formed from elements and could be easily changed to fit varying situations. Which meant that instead of the creation of items that could only support one rune, his elemental creations were fluid and changed often.


    A metal sword could only be carved into a handful of times before space and the threshold for the materials mana capacity was met. While Arson¡¯s elemental living hands were entirely made of mana which allowed for far more elemental energy to be stored internally within each hand, as well as the instant change of the runic designs through his elemental control.


    Arson began with a test. He opened and closed each of the seven treasure chest that could be found in the room and was astonished by the traps that were sprung with each chest he tested.


    Acid sprayed in a continual stream over the position in front of the first chest when its lid was open. Electricity could be experiencedthrough the second, with some sort of trapped plate that thrummed with lightning when it was open.


    Arson laughed when the flames came out of the chest itself after one of his living hands opened it. The temperature rose in the room, and he was forced to take a step back until his living hand closed the lid of the third chest.


    The middle chest shot arrows throughout the entire room, and Arson was forced to dive to the ground until his skill closed the lid. The fifth and sixth chest were already open, and the seventh was closed.


    Arson tested as many combinations as he could manage with his three golden constructs. The hands opened and closed chest rapidly, and Arson was saddened to realize, that the two open chest didn¡¯t like to be closed, and held traps of their own.


    When he¡¯d closed both simultaneously, a door he hadn¡¯t seen on the other side of the room, closed entirely. Opposed to when they¡¯d been opened, which Arson found out slid the door open slightly after he re opened them.


    He tried to have his hands open the chest one after the other, but that didn¡¯t work and normally left the traps of the last two opened chests triggered. He took a deep breath and stepped toward the first two traps, and doubted what he was about to try would work, but hoped he wasn¡¯t about to gain some sort of acid poisoning stack in his overlay.


    ¡°Hey now, I know we¡¯ve been playing it a little fast and loose in these trials, buddy, but let¡¯s not overdo it, you¡¯ve been at this for days, and I get it you¡¯re close to this subconscious meditation thing or whatever you want to call it, but we all have limits and I think that you may be punch drunk if you¡¯re about to stand in front of not one, but two, of the chests which tested positive for traps,¡± said Anastasia. Arson laughed, only because he truly wasn¡¯t tired. Even less so than when he was back home.


    He¡¯d practiced the breathing technique taught to him by PRO without end. Only to realize he was now both dependent on the technique completely to draw in mana, and that his body would quickly grow sick and slow without excess mana to draw on.


    When he looked at his soul realm, the stat conversion that had once been an endless uptick of power, now increased slowly. Only to grow in conversion speed when he progressed further into the trials.


    The higher the trial, the more mana that seemed to be pumped into the environment.


    The problem he now faced was the same problem he¡¯d faced since he learned to fold his mind. He couldn¡¯t fold his mind enough times to handle the magics he wanted to achieve in every situation, i.e. being able to summon enough hands to open all five unopened chest in front of him while positioned far enough away to be safe.


    ¡°Here goes nothing¡­¡±


    Arson stretched between the two chests closest to him, and positioned his constructs next to the remaining unopened chests. His heart began to race, and he barely managed to get a grip on the two lids he held while he lifted them.


    All chests opened with a synchronized click. Arson smiled as the door on the other side of the room opened completely, and the sound of a turbine roared to life.


    ¡°Hurry up and grab the treasure, kid,¡± yelled Anastasia. Arson barely managed to gather the goods, but did so with moments to spare before he was teleported once again.


    Then Arson arrived in his first ever instanced trial. One of many to come. It was after he read the prompt that popped into his vision that he knew his challenges from that point on would be far more difficult.


    ¡°Welcome to Aspire, you have been disguised as a delegate from Cloud Lake, stop the assassinations of your fellow delegates. Only use of runes is allowed for this trial. Additionally, you must not be discovered, or your trial will begin anew in another kingdom, in a potentially new time zone,¡± said Arson to himself. He looked at his watch in an attempt to hear Anastasia¡¯s thoughts, but the watch¡¯s AI was once again disabled for his trial.


    ¡°Wish me luck Anastasia,¡± said Arson to the screensaver of Anastasia that the AI assigned him. He looked through the large open ballroom, and took a deep breath.


    ¡°I bet I am going to need it.¡±

 Chapter 53: Working Vacation?

    ¡°Welcome to another episode of BHC news, I am your host, Lane, and today we are going to address the rumors about our newest fighter, Cro of Pocket Apartment 1.¡±


    Arson watched the feed and packed a bag at the same time. Luckily for him, Jasmine had a new musou black leather jacket and jeans for him the same day he got back. Arson enjoyed the spacial dimension pockets in the clothing, but ended up never using them due to his watch.


    ¡°We asked many viewers how they felt about her and were surprised by the answers we received,¡± continued Lane.


    Sparks¡­ where did I put my shoes? Arson closed his eyes and let a pulse of the Closed Eye Dominion show him his entire room and sighed when the shape of his shoes was on his desk.


    ¡°That chick gives no sparks at all, she just came in and was like you guys are some chumps and boom, bow, bang, everybody is eating punches,¡± came yelled from the broadcast when Arson walked away from the wall that projected the BHC broadcast.


    He put on his shoes, and tied them. He knew laced tennis-shoes were old fashioned but loved the high top sneakers he wore regardless. Due to the recyclers, he could restore his shoes no matter how damaged they were, and Xani was still working to perfect the restorative runes for stitching new functions into the linings of the clothes Jasmine and her teams made.


    ¡°I¡¯m personally a diehard for the Queen of Troy of course, but sparks man the BHC has some real characters, makes me wonder what other kind of fighters they are hiding in the background, half of these fights don¡¯t seem semi professional but the real deal instead,¡± rambled another excited young woman who attended the fight.


    ¡°Now my boss is well aware that many of you would like to see an interview with Cro. I¡¯m sorry, but he doesn¡¯t care and would like all of you to know that she will present herself to the world if and whenever she pleases, but hold on I can see the boo-hoos in the comments and would like you all to know that I will personally enter the depths of the pocket apartment myself if necessary to obtain a one-on-one,¡± said Lane. Arson was impressed with how much she¡¯d grown in a short time, but was sad to say that his own growth had begun to get in the way of progress.


    Other than his plans for Auto, Arson hadn¡¯t been able to push forward as fast as he wanted to with his other goals for multiple reasons.


    The most important being, his friends. They didn¡¯t know him anymore. Micro and the pocket apartment group were closer to him than anyone he knew, and that was because of the countless battles they¡¯d been forced into together over the recent season cycles within Endless.


    So instead of allowing for the awkwardness to continue. He put everything on an immediate pause to rebalance the tight knit bond he felt he¡¯d always shared with Khalif and the others.


    ¡°Like I said people, I made a promise and I don¡¯t break those. I know you all are used to everyday live streams, but for the next three days, I will be abroad on a working vacation with the other higher-ups of the BHC, so expect that interview in four days, I know, it¡¯s an eternity, but to make it up to you, I¡¯ve got my hands on secret training videos of the pocket apartment members for you, and secret training sessions for the queen of Troy to hold you over until I get back, and you know how we get down, no re-runs!¡±


    The feed ended with a companion video that displayed Micro and her team performing a scouting mission in a foreign realm, which made the footage being seen, not only very illegal, but priceless material for collectors who studied other realms.


    The thought of other realms made Arson¡¯s eyes drift toward the timer in his Overlay that showed how long he had to return to Endless and continue his tasks there. Which made him think of the only other place outside his own realm that he wanted to return to. The kingdom he¡¯d help rebuild as a child, had blue sand beaches that glimmered across the local shorelines .


    The pink waters were somehow Cristal clear and tainted all at the same time. Yet no matter what he¡¯d seen after, he¡¯d never been mesmerized by anything above the reddish hue sustained atop the deep ocean blue sands below the waters of the kingdom¡¯s perimeter.


    The ocean appearing to turn red the further out his gaze had traveled when he flew through the skies above the kingdom, still took his breath away to think about.


    ¡°I wish I could take Troy there, I bet she¡¯d love it,¡± thought Arson to himself.


    ¡°Hey, are you ready yet? Everyone is waiting for you outside, dude,¡± Troy walked into Arson¡¯s room in a sun dress that made Arson¡¯s mouth open slightly. Troy blushed at Arson¡¯s lingering stare, and coughed after the silence extended to a nearly uncomfortable level.


    ¡°You¡¯re staring, so speak, it can¡¯t be that bad, I really like this dress,¡± said Troy with a twirl. Arson sputtered and Troy rolled her eyes at him before she closed the distance and gave him a quick hug.


    Of everyone, Troy and surprisingly Xani handled the changes to Arson with the most ease. Xani only struggled with his height change and normally started to speak toward his belly out of habit from looking down to speak to Arson, but Troy seemed unaffected by the changes. Which made Arson feel at home, and that they had always been as close as he¡¯d hoped they would one day become.


    ¡°You are doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you,¡± asked Arson. Troy nodded and pulled him out of the room without another word.


    ¡­


    Jade felt at ease. Even though she had to extend her kitchen to fit a hundred pupils all at one time. Even though she hadn¡¯t had a moment to herself beyond crying alone in dark rooms in wait for her son¡¯s return. And even though her life was constantly changing, which she¡¯d never liked or been accustomed to prior.


    ¡°Now students- ¡± Jade started to speak, but then Arson popped his head into the room at the perfect time to pull her away from her current thought. She knew her son was trying to catch her off balance, and was even further stunned when his question actually achieved the feat.


    ¡°Hey Mom, can we have a portal to Raid Corp? I think it would make a perfect vacation spot for me and the others, and didn¡¯t know if¡ª¡°


    ¡°What did you say? I don¡¯t believe I heard you correctly, young man. Did you say, Raid Corp?¡±


    Arson nodded, while he slowly looked away his lips pressed together as if he didn¡¯t know exactly how to ask.


    ¡°That is quite an expensive request, son. Are you sure you are ready for¡ª¡±


    ¡°Of course Mom, I already bought the entrance tickets, just need the portal, don¡¯t exactly trust mundane travel, and don¡¯t really want to be caught flying throughout Maelstrom for any reason right now,¡± said Arson with a deepened voice that his mother still hadn¡¯t gotten used to. It was her turn to nod, and to her own surprise, she found herself flipping a coin toward Arson. Who deftly grasped the token out of the air, and looked at the coin in confusion.


    ¡°What is this?¡± The coin was made of a black metal and sported a white gold swirl on the face of both sides. One swirl clockwise, and the other counterclockwise.


    ¡°Xani worked on these, they work with temporal mana. Once a teleporter has been to a location, remnants of that location¡¯s mana stays with them perpetually. This is how long distance teleporters are able to return to places they¡¯ve been before, the more powerful the teleporter, the more locations they can store or access within their own mana, and the further the distances they can travel,¡± explained Jade as a preface.


    ¡°That coin stores mana linked to locations, infused with the mental impressions used by the teleporter, and can open a single portal to, and a single return portal back to where it was originally used from,¡± finished Jade and Arson¡¯s eyes widened before he pocketed the coin.


    ¡°Starting to think that you all improved as much as I did, and I was granted a lot more time,¡± said Arson with a sigh. Jade couldn¡¯t help but smile at her son¡¯s contemplative features.


    ¡°Your friends are as marvelous as you are, my son, which is why you chose them to be by your side. Don¡¯t be surprised if their lives come with as much inspiration as your own,¡± said Jade. When her son smiled and waved his goodbyes, Jade was happy to know that she could comfort him, but worried that maybe she shouldn¡¯t have let him go where he wanted.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    He survived Endless, this should be nothing for him Elizabeth, don¡¯t be ridiculous, he¡¯s fine¡­


    ¡°Love you mom, call me if you need us!¡±


    ¡­


    Arson walked hand in hand with Troy through the Dump. Though they had only reunited recently, they were both amazed by how comfortable they seemed to be together.


    Arson wasn¡¯t one for physical contact normally, but often felt the want to bridge any physical space between himself and Troy whenever she was in the room.


    He caught her often looking at him when he wasn¡¯t paying attention, and found himself stealing the same glances of her. The two were captivated by one another, and Arson didn¡¯t know if the rush of emotions he felt constantly for Troy was healthy or dangerous.


    ¡°Awe, I wish someone would look at me like that,¡± said Jasmine while Troy and Arson approached the rest of their group. Arson snickered to himself when Jasmine flinched at Troy¡¯s raised pointer finger.


    ¡°Hey now, keep bullying me and I¡¯ll make all your clothing one size too small,¡± said Jasmine with a quick movement to step behind Khalif.


    ¡°Hey, keep me out of this!¡± Khalif looked toward Arson for help, but received a vague shrug as response.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the move here, boss?¡± asked Rob. The Chef wore a backpack that Arson could sense spacial runes on from a distance. Arson wondered if Rob had learned any new potions over the last day or so, but set aside his questions to explain what they¡¯d all be doing for the next three days.


    ¡°Raid Corp, ever heard of it?¡± Arson pulled free the coin his mother had given him and pressed down on the clockwise gateway inscription. His mother hadn¡¯t explained how to use the device, so Arson dropped it on the ground behind himself.


    ¡°Of course, I researched them a lot before you left, you¡¯d mentioned that you wanted BHC to become a raiding group eventually, so I looked up the best companies hired for, or involved with corporate espionage, Raid Corp is the 11th most contracted company in the entire realm,¡± said Khalif. The portal behind Arson poured out of the coin on the ground like gravity had reversed to pull a liquid energy from inside and form the portal. This portal unlike Jade¡¯s other portals, showed their destination before they even stepped through, a feature of Xani¡¯s rune craft and the inner workings of the coin she¡¯d constructed.


    ¡°Well, I learned that they have a test, a hidden kind of thing, most people think it¡¯s a rumor, but¡­¡± The image of the construction on the other side of the portal came into view as the portal completed. A sight that made Arson¡¯s friends gasp, and stare drop-jawed.


    ¡°But what? Why am I coming again? This seems dangerous,¡± said Jasmine. While Lane was only able to nod in agreement.


    A skyscraper, formed from many smaller buildings filled the landscape behind Arson. The peak of the structure could not be seen from where they were positioned, and Arson even felt a slight hesitation at the sight when he glanced over his shoulder to look.


    Countless cultivators could be seen in the distance in a rush toward the building. Some flew over the violence that could be seen between them and the building, while others seemed to revel in the chaos.


    The objective was to scale the Skyscraper. Some tried as individuals, or small groups, while others tried as entire combat units, or even armies.


    At the top of the structure, was the corporation¡¯s entire wealth supposedly. So thieves, gangs, other corporations, as well as truly prominent cultivators, and Sekts, all tried to storm the skyscraper constantly; for a fee of course.


    ¡°It is dangerous, filled with traps from the basement, all the way up to the second floor of the place,¡± said Khalif with a chuckle.


    ¡°From what you described, little buddy, didn¡¯t you just leave a sparked up situation like this a few days ago,¡± asked Xani, seemingly excited. Arson could see it in the way she¡¯d lifted off the ground slightly to hover, and the smile that she wore when building new devices being replicated across her face as her eyes flickered between the runic systems being used offensively and defensively on the other side of the portal.


    Arson glanced at Troy to see her also excited; as well as unaffected by Xani¡¯s words. It seemed that Troy only minded when terms of endearment were used to flirt in his direction. So his rival¡¯s use of, little buddy, was seen as sisterly, rather than anything provocative.


    You¡¯re thinking too much Arson, just focus on the task at hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. From what I know there aren¡¯t any large transportation or teleportation hurdles within the buildings, but that doesn¡¯t matter anyway, we aren¡¯t really going to be interacting with what you all see here anyway,¡± said Arson before he extended an elbow toward Troy. Once she grabbed him, the group followed Arson and her through the portal.


    Once through, Arson wondered if he¡¯d have to collect the coin for the return portal, or if it just stayed open for as long as they were away.


    He turned around to see the portal¡¯s display shift like a camera toward the ground. The view changed from a path home, to the coin that he¡¯d dropped.


    ¡°Well that¡¯s pretty cool,¡± thought Arson, only to be amazed further when the same liquid energy that had formed the portal originally warped itself again even before he could reach out.


    A hand was formed from the face of the portal, that reached out and plucked the object from the floor and pulled it through. A mirrored version of the hand then reached out to place the coin in Arson¡¯s own hand as he¡¯d naturally extended it palm up once he realized what was happening.


    The moment the coin touched his palm, all of the temporal energy used, was sucked back into the coin. The hand, portal, and even his way home, gone in an instant, leaving a coin lit only on its counterclockwise face.


    ¡°Sparks¡­ I know a lot of runes, but have no idea how the sparks she pulled that one off,¡± mumbled Arson to himself before he pocketed the coin and made a call on his watch.


    ¡°Hello, how may I help you,¡± asked a kind voice from his wrist.


    ¡°Hi, my name is Carter Gestalt, I have a reservation and would like to use my optional pickup service,¡± said Arson. He merely waved away the odd looks his friends gave him with the use of the alias he¡¯d created.


    He tried not to laugh out loud when Lane looked at Troy, and mouthed, ¡°optional pickup service¡±. Troy shrugged, but still looked in Arson¡¯s direction slightly confused as to what was happening.


    ¡°Yes sir, we have a vehicle in route already, you should see it shortly. Please don¡¯t bother to approach the perimeter walls or the entry lines, it is far easier to grab you and your group away from the masses and areal traffic,¡± responded the voice.


    ¡°Thank you. Are you my attendant or will I figure all that out later?¡± asked Arson with an accompanied point in the distance toward an aircraft. His friends looked in the distance and he finished up with the woman who introduced herself as Sprinter.


    ¡°Hey you, what did you do?¡± Arson felt his cheek get poked and looked down at Troy who wore her stern face. Glare, pressed lips, slightly flared nostrils, all signs that Arson needed to be careful with his answer.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to let your facial features manipulate me into ruining an obvious surprise, Troy, now fix your face before I make you do it with a kiss¡­¡± Arson then watched Troy try to keep the frown on her face, but snickered as her blush and smirk emerged.


    ¡°You¡¯ll give me wrinkles if I need to frown for you to want to kiss me,¡± said Troy under her breath. Arson rolled his eyes and moved toward the room sized hovercraft. The vehicle landed, and its tear shaped body opened to reveal a business professional with a metallic nameplate that read, Sprinter in a fanciful font.


    Arson could see Xani¡¯s eyes dissect the vehicle and didn¡¯t doubt that their own transportation services would improve drastically based on what she learned here.


    It wasn¡¯t until they¡¯d all entered the room, introduced themselves to Sprinter, and sat down in the lavish accommodations, that Arson remembered the twins that used to follow Jasmine around.


    They¡¯d even followed me for a time, I wonder what they got up too while I was gone?


    ¡°Hey Jazz, where the sparks are the twins?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re doing a tour of all the green zones in the dump with some other body guard trainees,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°Oh wow, I don¡¯t even think Troy and I ever tried that,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Nope, but I planned on doing it once we returned to nighttime training sessions,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Night time training, you still planned on doing that with me, I thought with how much success you gained from all those Pro-am fights that you¡¯d start looking for a professional trainer?¡±


    ¡°Ha, you¡¯re funny, but who¡¯s a better trainer than your mom, or who is better to train with than the person that a mother nature candidate is trying to make as powerful as possible, no wait I got a better one¡ª¡° Arson cut her off.


    ¡°I get it, I get it, but there is a reason why my mother is only a candidate, there are many powerful individuals that can bring you up to a new level, so don¡¯t close yourself off to any potential options, tunnel vision is only a boon when we don¡¯t let it shut out new experiences.¡± Silence filled the area, and when Arson looked around, everyone in the aircraft was looking at him.


    ¡°What? Did I say something strange? You guys are looking at me like I¡¯m an alien,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Come on man, you think we are going to get used to you going from a hyperactive child, to a seemingly disciplined young cultivator overnight,¡± asked Rob. Khalif nodded in agreement.


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been smart boss, but I¡¯d kinda gotten used to the unrefined version of you. Don¡¯t get me wrong, you¡¯ve moved me with words many times, but since you¡¯ve been back, you talk more like a Keeper than a kid, or even someone our age,¡± said Khalif. Arson¡¯s glance toward Sprinter prompted the woman to speak up, and Arson wondered if his apprehension to continue the conversation had flickered across his face.


    ¡°Your words here are private, sir, and though I agree that your words seem wise well beyond how old you appear, my opinions will not leave the bubble of your own social circle,¡± said Sprinter with a waved hand around at the group.


    Don¡¯t let your training lax just because you¡¯re comfortable, you must remain in control of the mask of your soul, Arson told himself mentally.


    He¡¯d sat with kings, played with princes, and kept a stern gaze even when faced with death. He may want to relax and enjoy himself, but the time for that would come later. Instead he needed to fix the comfortability that had been disrupted between the ones he loved the most.


    Now that we have finally made it, you can do exactly what you have always wanted to¡­


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, you¡¯ll get used to it, and now that we are here, you need to prepare yourselves for competition and¡­ spa treatments!¡± Arson rose to his feet and pointed out the window toward the resort as it came into view. The resort that Raid Corp used its excess funds to make excess funds.


    ¡°May I welcome you all to Coliseum,¡± said Sprinter.


    ¡°Here we offer luxury based on skill, each competitor must win to gain more comforts beyond the entry offered by your tickets,¡± The group took in the landscape, filled with thrill rides, water parks, and luxury.


    The aircraft approached, but before it could fly in to the area filled with attractions, they stopped mid air and descended toward a landing pad. A landing pad that instead proved to be an elevator¡­


    The group was lowered. The elevator moved down floor by floor, and the amazement and shock on the group faces changed into dread and despair.


    The scene around them transitioned from the lavished world they all wanted to be a part of, to an impoverished area that reminded them all of the city around the orphanage they¡¯d grown up in.


    ¡°Sprinter put a hand out to stop Arson before he could walk out of the aircraft. The woman aware of the disappointment his friends momentarily displayed. Arson hadn¡¯t missed it, but felt good when the woman checked in with him anyway.


    ¡°Are you sure you would like to start out this low sir, not many people who start down here are able to make it off this floor,¡± warned Sprinter. Arson looked around at his friends and then back at the Raid Corp employee with a huge smile.


    ¡°This floor has never had to stop, the Black Hole Corporation¡­¡± Nods came from each of his people, and Sprinter smiled back.


    ¡°Well then good luck, and may your path be, Endless¡­¡±

 Chapter 54: PUSH!

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Arson turned back around but the doors of the elevator had already begun to shut, and the tall cloaked figure that stood next to Sprinter smiled at Arson. The man¡¯s grin the only thing visible underneath his cowled red cloak.


    Arson couldn¡¯t help but glance at the timer in his overlay. The list of things he¡¯d be required to solve through his next set of trials left a weight on his mind. He¡¯d tried to ignore it since he left Endless, but apparently the stress of it all had left him slightly rattled.


    He didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d imagined the man, but the presence¡¯s familiarity made the back of Arson¡¯s mind itch from his crown¡¯s tip to the base of his cerebral realm.


    ¡°Hmm, I guess some things don¡¯t change. What¡¯s up, why are you stressed?¡± Troy¡¯s voice pulled Arson from his thoughts. His brow scrunched as he was confused by the root of the question being asked of him until Troy pointed just above his head.


    ¡°Your crown is showing. Actually began to wonder if you still had it until just then,¡± said Troy. Arson looked up to see the physical manifestation of his inner power and sighed.


    He¡¯d gotten it to the point where he only felt slightly nauseous without his crown out almost six season cycles ago, and knew that his core grew even if he didn¡¯t use it properly.


    ¡°Yeah, I wonder sometimes if I¡¯m hurting myself by hiding it so often,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°Then stop hiding it, silly. It¡¯s not like even poor people aren¡¯t born with crowns for cores,¡± offered Troy in support.


    ¡°That look like mine, and drink in ambient mana, absolutely any type, without distinction?¡± Troy looked around momentarily, then nodded up at him.


    ¡°Better put it away for now, but please know that you should feel comfortable with the displaying of your core. I am not ashamed to be around you while it is out, orphaned by a king or not,¡± stated Troy with a grin. Arson pulled her into a hug she didn¡¯t refuse and after a moment, they separated and he turned toward his friends.


    ¡°So guys, this is where we are going to be for the next three days, maybe more if we haven¡¯t made it to the top floor by then, but the premiss is pretty simple, our group has a point total, the more points we have, the better our rooms become,¡± explained Arson.


    ¡°So how do we gain points?¡± asked Xani,.


    ¡°There are two types of events in this place, solo, and party. I have a few party events on this floor already scheduled later, but for now I¡¯d like you all to explore and see the types of solo events you can get entangled in before we all come together as a unit.¡±


    ¡°Holy crap! There are potion comps down here,¡± stated Rob. He¡¯d stepped away and began to scroll through a nearby terminal. The devices could be seen at the ends of every block in any direction Arson looked, alongside street vendors, stalls and a few larger shops.


    The open area had an artificial sky above, filled by a sunset and stars even visible through the almost daytime effect being simulated. A sight that made Arson want to fly even though he knew there would be a roof above to eventually stop his ascent.


    ¡°Is there stuff for all of us to do?¡± asked Jasmin. Arson could see her hesitation to figure out how things worked, but knew that he¡¯d picked the right place for his entire group to both grow as individuals and come together as a team.


    Even before he¡¯d left, they hadn¡¯t truly been forced into a situation where they had to work together to complete a task. So if Arson would one day rely on his friends as he envisioned, they would have to become as reliable as Micro and the Pocket Apartment members, or more.


    ¡°What are you going to get into while we explore? Any events that you are interested in doing alone?¡± asked Khalif. Arson spun slowlytoward a large crowd of people and gestured toward someone standing on a small stage in front the group.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be placing bets on whatever you guys get into, the more bets I win, the faster we go up in floors, I think there are 13 in total,¡± answered Arson. The others nodded and he hugged Troy before he started off down the road.


    He first needed to gain some points to start betting with and had a few ideas on how he could get enough to make an impact. He needed enough points to support a group, and normal events wouldn¡¯t be sufficient.


    After he stopped to check a terminal to make sure he was heading in the right direction; he quickly found himself in front of two massive doors. A line of people extended from a pair of guards, which Arson ran passed.


    Murmurs started at his actions and one of the guards shook his head. The event was notorious for ending with cultivators bloodied and ruined, and since Arson was the one who approached the doors, they knew it was he who signed up for the event named, Skeletal Horde.


    The two massive doors opened up and Arson ran in. The attendees behind him were also allowed to enter and quickly headed toward the arena seating all around the desert plain Arson ran into.


    ¡°Hello, Hello, Hello, and welcome! Most of you here know what is about to go down, but some of you are unaware, so let me, your brilliant host tell the minority what is about to happen,¡± said a loud voice that echoed through the area around Arson.


    ¡°I, the magnificent Bobby, am going to let our chosen victim below, Carter Gestalt, pick a weapon, and then he will be faced with summoning portals connected to a skeletal underworld,¡± yelled Bobby the announcer and the growing crowd erupted into cheers.


    ¡°Now just as a reminder for our guest, if you kill skeletons, you get points, manage to destroy smaller portals, more points, kill what comes out of larger portals, doubtful, but yeah, points¡­¡±


    Arson ran through the plain passed many swords, daggers, hammers, maces, and many more exotic weaponry. Yet in the end he settled on a basic two-handed scythe that he kicked into his hand from the ground and spun around his body to test.


    ¡°And of course we all know the number one rule, no mana allowed, and don¡¯t forget that if you fall into one of the summoning portals, we aren¡¯t coming after you to save you, dude. At best, we¡¯ll send in some cameras to watch you get slaughtered. Sparks¡­ did I miss anything?¡±


    ¡°No, let¡¯s hurry this up,¡± yelled Arson over his shoulder.


    ¡°Wow, show a crash dummy some hospitality and they spit right in your face. Well, victim, good luck, I mean, Carter Gestalt,¡± said Bobby with the addition of an odd accent to his surname.


    Arson raised the symbol for, Ok above his head and watched the first portal come into view. A rune warped into the air, only to transform into a rip in reality. The distortion widened and spat out skeletons like poured water, and a notification popped up into Arson¡¯s view.


    Fearless title triggered, what was once minor, now has magnitude: Survive long enough to kill a horde leader: 1/3.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Holy sparks! What is going on with the controls, Henry!¡± Bobbies voice cracked in a panic of alarm, as every bit of available mana to the area was pushed into the mechanisms for the summoning portals.


    ¡°You got something to do with this,¡± asked Arson with a tap on his wrist to wake Anastasia.


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame this on me, you saw that notification, your title triggered. Why¡¯d you pick that crazy sparking title anyway? Took your mom a century to get rid of it,¡± said Anastasia. Arson sighed heavily and stretched.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­,¡± stated Arson simply.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s bad¡­,¡± responded Anastasia. Arson cracked his neck and knuckles, before he took a readied stance, and extended the scythe he held.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡­


    Rob walked into the small shop to see 100 or so tables filled with alchemy equipment. Only a few of the tables remained empty. So Rob quickly found his way toward one of those, and found it strange when people gazed at his choice.


    The equipment being offered was uncommon for most to see as new alchemist, so most decided to use the potentially higher quality. Only those with ridiculous backing brought their own materials and preferred their own equipment; their backers usually a grade above the rest.


    Am I one of those people now¡­? Naa¡­


    Rob began to take his tools out of his spacial bag, while he also read the rules for the competition.


    ¡°What am I making here? Seems like a basic healing potion¡¯s sparked up, little brother. Why would I even add that? Do these people want people¡¯s blood cells to explode¡­¡± After Rob analyzed the entire list of ingredients, looked around at his competition again and laughed at how many botched potions he could see at a distance, he merely shook his head and began.


    He didn¡¯t care that he came in halfway through the timed interval. Nor that he used his own fresh ingredients, rather than the wilted plant life offered. What Rob cared about was his process.


    From that point on, Rob¡¯s inner chef was stirred from the depths and took over.


    The larger cauldron he used took up most of the table, which left him with not much of an area to work with. Acceptable for some, but not for Rob.


    Without a second thought Rob managed to slide another table toward his own and spread his tools out further. He was unaware that the table weighed a ton, but his consistent potion usage had had more than a few effects on his body and mind.


    One being the physical changes that added to his strength and dexterity, but even less obvious were the addictive qualities of the bodily improvements. Rob still wore his rebreather, and hadn¡¯t tasted natural air in almost half a fortnight.


    This was due to a secondary effect caused by the water breathing potions he made. After the duration of the potions extended passed the half a day threshold, Rob started to notice how fast his thoughts moved after being under the potions effects for more than a day.


    Additionally he had cut himself in the kitchen, and watched the cut close visibly. Where he would have once been exhilarated and proud of himself; he was now a part of a group of geniuses that made his feat feel minor, even as incredible as it truly was.


    Once Rob ran of out of space, he pulled another empty table to work on, but before he could grab an additional one, a trend had begun and others around had taken up the rest of the available surfaces. Rob reevaluated his competition, and laughed at the changes.


    Many had realized that their first potions were botched. The list of partial accurate ingredients had started a chainedset of explosions fated to occur since the beginning. Rob snickered to himself, pulled another table from his spacial bag to the amazement of almost everyone inside the small shop, and continued to brew the health potion being requested.


    ¡­


    ¡°Next!¡± Xani yelled the single word on repeat. Each time she repaired an item, she immediately called for the next person. She had no idea how many points she¡¯d acquired since she¡¯d last checked, but had no intention of stopping until she was either told she couldn¡¯t work anymore, or was told to stop by Arson.


    It¡¯d be a waste of time you could have used to catch up to that monster, thought Xani.


    Xani had entered a repair shop full of mechanics, engineers, craftsmen of a large variety and even a few specialists.


    Points were rewarded by how many repair tickets were completed. Once an item was returned, the quantity of points equated to the value of the repair given by the master inspectors hired by Raid Corp was deposited into their groups account.


    Xani refused to look at the points a second time as whatever Arson was doing to make their group points never seemed to stop. Their names were stacked in an ascending order from lowest to highest points, and her bosses points rose like the numbers on a stop watch.


    She¡¯d thought that she¡¯d be able to keep up with him easily. No crafter near to her completed as many tasks as she had since she¡¯d arrived.


    Weapons, armors, trinkets and even runic talismans, were reforged, polished, and infused with restorative manas like an assembly line behind Xani.


    While she herself took in the orders, two robotic hands she¡¯d made to mimic Arson¡¯s own worked on the table behind her.


    Though the rune work required her direct attention, everything else was worked on by her extra hands.


    ¡°Sparks BossLady, leave some for the little guy,¡± yelled another competitor a few tables down from Xani. Her line grew as fast as it shortened, which only drew more patrons at a faster rate. No one wanted to wait, nor had anyone complained about the repairs. In fact some noted improvements¡­


    I¡¯m a crafter, just because you hand me trash, doesn¡¯t mean I can return it as such, undamaged or not.


    ¡°Next!¡±


    Khalif watched Xani¡¯s points start to shoot up drastically, before Rob momentarily eclipsed them all in points. The young man received a massive sum of points at once, then smaller lump sums every few moments in random intervals from that point on.


    How quickly his teammates gained points made him wonder if the choice he¡¯d made to bounty hunt was the best idea. It may take him much longer to find targets, but luckily for him there were dozens of places marked on the local terminals to start.


    Khalif scoped out an apartment building, filled from top to bottom with illegal competitors. The cultivators within the building were either in debt point-wise, or had stayed in Coliseum for longer than their ticket permitted.


    This bounty stuff better pay big if I¡¯m going to be able to pay my own way like the others, thought Khalif to himself. He only was rewarded a tenth of what each cultivator owed, or double the overall ticket cost of the time the overstays would have had to pay.


    To receive the points bounty, he had to successfully tag the cultivator with a tracking chip, for which he¡¯d been given a handgun with more than 1000 available rounds. What made his task difficult, was that the chips could only be activated when placed in one of three locations on the body. The carotid artery, or neck. The back of the neck, or spinal cord. Or finally, the temples.


    Khalif wasn¡¯t a good shot, but with what he had planned, he didn¡¯t think he would have to be.


    The only other issue he¡¯d been warned about when the bounty office gave him the ID safe gun, was that it would only fire at people the pinprick cameras identified as illegal competitors. So he should be wary of legal competitors mixed in, some would defend illegal competitors that worked for them, or even owed them points.


    ¡°¡±Let¡¯s make this quick, gotta lot of stops to make.¡±


    Khalif dropped into his own shadow; the minor teleportation able to transport him across the street, and into a bathroom he saw on the second floor. He landed in a crouch on the back of the toilet tank, in the same moment a young man rose from his seated position on the toilet.


    The young man bent to pick up his trousers and before he could even pull up his zipper, Khalif touched the barrel of his handgun to the back of his neck and pulled the trigger.


    The tracking chip slammed into the cultivator with a punch that took him off his feet, and sent incredible amounts of electricity through his body.


    Khalif hadn¡¯t expected the power behind the shot, so didn¡¯t expect the body of the cultivator to slam up against the bathroom door. In the end he was fast enough to catch the body before it hit the floor, but not enough to stop the initial slam it¡¯d made.


    ¡°You good in there, I¡¯m gonna be pissed if you fell asleep on the toilet after I told you I gotta drop one bad, dude, come on!¡± Khalif moved to the door as the person outside continued to yell and banged on the door in a hurry to get inside.


    The door was whipped open by Khalif, who then jammed his pistol into the startled cultivators neck before they could react and once more pulled the trigger.


    The person was sent off their feet and fell against a nearby wall into a puddle of limbs and their own slowly expelled waste.


    ¡°Hmmm, that¡¯s way more points than I thought I¡¯d be getting. What are the higher floors like?¡± said Khalif as he stepped over the seizing bounty he¡¯d just tagged and kicked in another door with the handgun raised at the ready.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get up on my account, I¡¯m just here to pick up the trash, no I can do better than that, let me try again¡­ don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯m just¡­ oh whatever, eat sparks!


    ¡­


    ¡°Work it, work it, work it!¡± Jasmine and Lane had somehow found themselves a part of a dance competition. Or it had been, then they were interviewed which led to them presenting for a streetwear fashion show.


    ¡°Hey, should we do the singing competition or the talent show next?¡± asked Jasmine.


    ¡°I know you want to do those, but seriously, sister, this sensual voice actors one will probably get us an outrageous amount of points. It¡¯s labeled as the seventh highest viewed event down here under other crazy sparking spectacles like Skeletal Horde, and Rampage, who the sparks is crazy enough to join an event called sparking Rampage for maiden¡¯s sake?¡±


    Jasmine lifted Lane¡¯s chin from the Terminal they were both standing at, until her eyes saw one screen with Arson rushing into a portal that seemed to vomit skeletons like an exorcism victim, and another screen where Troy destroyed as many buildings as possible using a great hammer as a timer ticked down in the corner of the screen.


    ¡°See, we gotta go big Jazz. You and me doing sexy voice dubs over kung fu movies is sure to get a few laughs. I promise, please, please, pretty please, please?¡±


    Jasmine didn¡¯t have to take long to consider what Lane stated as potentially a good idea. Not only because Lane had a talent for hyping up practically any crowd, but also because even Khalif had started to shoot up in points out of the blue.


    One second, he had a whopping zero, the next, he, Xani and Rob all fluctuated between 3rd, 4th, and 5th place. While Arson and Troy shifted between first and second constantly.


    ¡°Spark it, rock paper scissors for who gets to play the female lead,¡± said Jasmine as she lifted both hands, a fist held in her opposing palm in preparation.


    ¡°You are on!¡±

 Chapter 55: Raid Corp Competitors

    ¡°What do you think of her,¡± asked one of the grandmasters in the viewing room. The space they were in had 21 sides, each side a large wall filled with screens of events held on corresponding floors.


    The martial combat expert who¡¯d spoken stood next to his oldest rival in front of the wall of screens linked to the lowest floor. Both men lost interest in cultivators beyond the lowest levels, as most who made it beyond the first, were either extremely talented, or lucky and would probably be swallowed whole long before they made it where they now stood.


    ¡°Yeah, I noticed her too, never seen someone use light mana so destructively, aren¡¯t most of their type healers and the like,¡± asked one master to the other.


    ¡°For sure, but you know better than me how using basic manas in exotic ways can be more than beneficial for growth, wait what do you mean you noticed her too, who has caught your eye?¡±


    ¡°This kid over here, Carter something,¡± One master stepped away from the screen he watched filled with a girl on a demolition rampage, and over to his rival to see what had caught the man off guard.


    ¡°His rival rarely stayed in front of a singular screen ever, but had made an obvious exception for some reason.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that challenge have a mana lock on it,¡± asked the master when he stepped closer to see the young man named Carter Gestalt spin through a sea of bones and violence.


    ¡°I may bet on him to make it off the ground floors and up here to the sky suites,¡± mumbled one master to the other. The other man nodded, and glanced back at the girl he¡¯d watched wrecking a city block built to stand the might of powerful cultivators of many shapes and sizes.


    ¡°Sparks, I think I¡¯ll put money on your guy, and this beam of sunlight over here too¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, how about we make it interesting, pick one, the boy or girl, and whichever one makes it up first, if they even manage to make it at all, wins, then you or I will pay for the others next time extension ticket,¡± prompted the grandmaster¡¯s rival in challenge.


    The two performed a handshake as confirmation of their bet, and both received a notification that symbolized the contractual legitimacy of their spoken wager.


    ¡°May the best cultivator win my old friend.¡±


    ¡­


    Troy found herself in the middle of a dilapidated hotel, that had once been pristine. Recently in fact; as its current state was completely accomplished in a matter of moments.


    Troy didn¡¯t know she had such a talent for demolition, but with each load baring wall she destroyed like her weapon was magnetized toward the architectural supports, she knew.


    ¡°Should I do this for stress relief,¡± asked Troy aloud to herself in contemplation. The roof rained down around her and she knocked away chunks of the structure rather than be enveloped by dust and debris.


    ¡°She was glad that she¡¯d found an event that offered her massive amounts of points for a simple task. Well simple for her at least.


    She¡¯d started to practice filling things struck by her weapons with unstable light mana that caused atoms to split. This caused most of what she hit with her hammer during the event to disintegrate like cotton candy.


    Why she needed as many points as feasible, and as fast as possible¡­ her boyfriend of course.


    The young man stated that he would be placing bets to win their money, but hadn¡¯t mentioned the literal army he¡¯d decided to fight to get some starting capitol. Yes, he could have waited for the others to get them for him, but instead, took action as always.


    Shouldn¡¯t have been surprised, Arson couldn¡¯t sit down even if there was money on the line and all he had to do was stay seated.


    Troy chuckled to herself, and pushed her Overlay notifications aside. She was prompted every time she and Arson swapped places for the number one position on their team for points. Which at first had fueled Troy to push harder, until she got a message from Lane stating that Arson was in some sort of event where he couldn¡¯t use mana or he¡¯d be disqualified.


    The words had taken the wind from her sails instantly. So instead of trying to beat Arson, she pushed to enjoy herself.


    ¡°And another one down, and another one down, and another one falls to dust,¡± sang Troy. She got into a groove after a while and hadn¡¯t realized that the main cameras for her event followed her every action.


    Viewers watched as the areas long unused, or refurnished improperly were turned to ruins. Buildings made to withstand tornados, toppled in a single swing.


    Troy had a catch phrase for each building she made smash into another and it quickly caught on with the viewership, ¡°Timber!¡±


    Ten story buildings crumpled like stacks of improperly placed building blocks for children; sometimes even more than one at a time were made to fall.


    Troy¡¯s catchphrase could then be heard echoed across the lower floor in the aftermath of each destroyed piece of architecture, and even some entirely separate events paused to join in the cheer that came with each explosive demise.


    She reached a state of zen, and in a moment of inspiration tapped into her newest ability.


    The vortex of light absorption and expulsion formed around Troy. The energy intensified when she spun, great hammer in hand, like a powerfully shaped mixing device made to twist reality.


    An entire block vanished in three complete rotations , and the audience went wild across the first floor at the sight, and her points sky rocketed.


    ¡°Hmm, maybe I can win, even if you aren¡¯t using any sparking mana Arson, how that¡¯s even possible with the level of challenges being presented down here, I have no idea¡­¡± thought Troy with a sigh and a shrug.


    ¡°Come on Troy, a win is a win, he chose his event, and you chose yours, winning some artificial battle in your head to be better than your friends won¡¯t make you do any better, just push yourself and see where this goes¡­!¡±


    ¡­


    Arson was having a blast. The skeletal armies that poured out from the dozen portals he actively chose not to close kept Arson in motion without end.


    The scythe in his hands flashed in what seemed to audience members to be multiple directions at once.


    What they were unaware of was how much Arson favored the weapon. Having had used one so often throughout his early teens, he could no longer be considered average or commonplace in regards to his scythe use. He was instead, quite talented.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    So much in fact that he wondered if his usage of the scythe could be considered a magical ability. He felt that with the weapon in hand a sense of his surroundings was given with each swing. It wasn¡¯t as precise as his closed eye dominion by any means, but there was a reason Arson¡¯s Reaper Gestalt form, wielded a scythe when summoned.


    Arson spun through the first few dozen easily in the beginning. Every dozen breaths another small rip appeared, and gave more skeletons a new vantage point to emerge from.


    The situation continued to escalate. Arson soon became enclosed by spacial rips and a flood of bone creatures.


    ¡°People, I don¡¯t know who this guy pissed off upstairs, but he¡¯s sparked, for real, can we be sued for foul play on this one, Henry¡­,¡± yelled Bobby the announcer.


    Arson gained momentum, seemingly to the audience as quickly as the scales grew around him.


    He moved with the intention to only use enough energy to survive the next moment. This would train his reactionary combat abilities, and with his self created Flicker Stance; a single movement could result in dozens of deaths.


    This was what gave the appearance that he could die at any moment. Movements only made when as many enemies as possible were within his reach, before he extended his weapon wide.


    The wide sweeps of Arson¡¯s stance were created to replicate the speed and flexibility of a dagger, and offer the same power potential and range as a great sword.


    The added hook like effect the weapon gave Arson was utilized in ways that made the crowd gasp in awe of the wielder.


    Some enemies were caught and pulled from the air when they used their fellow skeletons¡¯ piled-up bodies to jump high above Arson to attack.


    While others were pulled off their feet, Arson¡¯s blade weaved in between leg bones, before he launched foes into the air. He¡¯d even managed to use this method to block a few of the skeletons who jumped from above.


    Aerial collisions occurred by the handful, but most were instead sliced in half or were even instantly bisected with blurred flashes of movements Arson performed as simply as single steps forward.


    Arson had loved the weapon since he first tried it, but felt he would never catch up to the individual that first inspired him to use it. His grandfather was one of many individuals who used a scythe, and though Arson loved his talent for it, he still wanted to recreate his family¡¯s lost weapon, and felt he¡¯d only just begun to grasp a potential start to the process. Still¡­


    ¡°Bring it on!¡± An explosion of force boomed outward. He spun 360 degrees in an instant at the center of the horde,. A wave of pressure rippled out from the slice in a torrent of devastation that eviscerated all the summoning portals that surrounded him.


    ¡°Holy sparks folks, this guy is an absolute issue for these skeletons, but this staging area must be broken if you expect me to believe that he didn¡¯t just use mana to do that!¡±


    Arson grinned. The attack gave him a moment to look around at his environment. Every foe even beyond the physical reach of his weapon had been crushed by his last attack.


    The attack indeed hadn¡¯t used any mana, but what it had done was crack the shaft of the weapon he held, which made Arson sigh with sorrow. It was the same problem with every scythe he used, they could never stand up to the requirements mandatory for Flicker Stance¡¯s use.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope you last long enough to get me out of this jam, little lady,¡± thought Arson with a firm grip on the scythe in an attempt to physically hold it together by will and force alone.


    A resonance occurred in that moment. Arson committed himself to the weapon¡¯s use, and in the same breath was also chosen.


    A strange energy filled the sky above Arson and soon images of scythe wielders of many different varieties and types could be seen. Mana converged above to paint the sky with images of those who¡¯d truly affected reality through their use of the weapon Arson currently gave his all too.


    The first large portal was ripped open in front of Arson and without a single thought, he dashed forward, ¡°I¡¯ll show you what it truly means to be fearless System, one step at a time!¡±


    ¡°Really think it¡¯s a good idea to taunt the system while charging through a hell-mouth, kiddo?¡±


    ¡°Not now, Ana!¡±


    ¡°Aww you shortened my name, we can be friends now, yay,¡± said Anastasia with exaggerated excitement to show her displeasure. Her continual displeasure at Arson¡¯s choice to risk both of their existences constantly, by rushing toward danger for nothing more than excitement and wealth alone.


    ¡°Ha, don¡¯t act like you don¡¯t love this!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t, I just find it slightly amusing is all¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah well, looks like the odds are going to be stacked against me now, so either help out or shut up, this isn¡¯t as easy as I make this look.¡±


    Anastasia laughed and nodded on his wrist, before she started to scan the new area he¡¯d rushed into.


    The Coliseum cameras followed behind Arson and revealed a medieval city, filled to the absolute brim with skeletal humanoids, beasts and even winged nightmares.


    The audience that paid to watch the event, started to share video clips of what was being recorded by Raid Corp, and without Arson¡¯s knowledge, he broke into the top 1000 most viewed events offered by Raid Corp, viewable on their company¡¯s mane stream page for any and all to see.


    ¡°Southwest incoming,¡± yelled Anastasia from Arson¡¯s wrist. He turned with a two handed grip on the base of the scythe and completely the opposite direction from where he¡¯d been charging and swung.


    The large skeletal drake that had dove toward his rear, was slapped out of the sky by the scythe he extended toward its head blade first.


    He knew he would have sliced the creatures head in half if it was made of flesh and blood, but it was instead sent at high speeds toward a herd that attempted to flank and chase down Arson while he moved forward.


    He wouldn¡¯t stop until his weapon broke, or there was nothing left to stand in his way. The images in the sky growing more vibrant as he pushed his skills further than he ever had before.


    ¡°Come on!¡±


    ¡­


    Although Arson and Troy were able to make an exceptionally large amount of points rather quickly. It was Jasmine and Lane who ended up being the first ones to make it off the first floor.


    Not by choice, but by force.


    Lane¡¯s idea to dub a series of old karate movies, exploded¡­


    Lane found and bought the rights to a series with literal thousands of episodes, and their work began.


    The change from the seriousness the original show offered had been converted into a single episode to test how their idea would work¡­ at first.


    Then when they ran the first few moments and were applauded with cheers and laughter during both the sensual voice actor gag event, and the talent show first place was given to them; both girls knew they had something.


    Between Jasmine and Lane who fed easily off one another¡¯s energy, ten more episodes were made in no time. Those episodes were no challenge for them and once they got into a refined process through practice, they sent 3 more episodes to Raid Corp to use, and were immediately contracted to give them 100 episodes before the end of their stay, with 45% royalties split between the two of them.


    ¡°How long until you think the others come up here,¡± asked Lane in a hot tub. They had managed a dozen episodes beyond their original ten, and took a break as they watched their point total start to resemble Arson¡¯s as the number ticked upward with every blink of time that passed.


    ¡°Not long, darling, not long at all¡­¡± Jasmines voice vibrated with each mini karate chop the masseuse performed down her body while she read over the lines they¡¯d created for the next section of their show.


    ¡°Holy sparks, I think you are right, have you seen Khalif and Rob¡¯s points recently?¡± Jasmine refocused her gaze on the section of her Overlay that presented her teams points as individuals and as a whole.


    ¡°I get how Rob is making that many points, but what the sparks is Khalif doing¡­?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, he¡¯s Arson¡¯s right hand man, we can only expect something crazy from anything tied to our boss,¡± responded Lane with a sip from her wine glass filled with sparkling juice.


    ¡°Mmhmm, wait what are you trying to say, I¡¯m connected to him and so are you¡­?¡± Lane simply shrugged and snickered at Jasmine¡¯s feelings toward the perceived slight.


    ¡°Yeah, like I said absolutely bonkers.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Look man just don¡¯t¡ª¡° Khalif cut off the young woman¡¯s plea with a computer chip to the side of the head. The force of the shot from the handgun knocked her out of a window on the fifth flor and Khalif rushed to see the girl hit the ground hard.


    ¡°Holy sparks, gonna count myself lucky she wasn¡¯t one of those frail magic types.¡± The girl got to her feet and rubbed the impact point, before she gave a rude gesture up toward Khalif.


    ¡°Yeah yeah, pay ya bills, woman!¡±


    He¡¯d made it pretty high up the first building he¡¯d entered, but the amount of stealth required to gain more bounties had quintupled.


    Security on the first few levels had been a joke, but now his progress had slowed drastically. Not his point total, but his upward ascent was now a dead crawl.


    Between the security doors, legal security guards that the chip gun didn¡¯t work on, and the pressure of watching his friends own points sky rocket upward, Khalif was a little frustrated. Then he got a message from Rob that made him laugh. Apparently the young man had been forced to become a judge for the event he¡¯d taken part in, and wasn¡¯t able to make potions fast enough to keep up with demand.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been forced to take on two of the people I beat as helpers, but the points are good, how goes it on your end,¡± read Khalif under his breath while he sat in an awkward position.


    Khalif had shimmied up between two parallel walls in a random hall way . His legs extended straight out from his center, with his feet flat up against the wall across from him and his back against the wall behind him.


    He sat comfortably high enough up that cultivators managed to walk beneath him without a clue that he was perched above them casually texting on his flatscreen.


    ¡°It''s good. Wish I had some higher valued targets, but most of these idiots aren¡¯t even smart enough to look up when they enter a room,¡± mumbled Khalif as he typed Rob back. Before he could even finish his message another person walked below him, directly in the opening of the door he hid above.


    Khalif paused in his typing, aimed, fired at the man¡¯s temple and watched as the third person he¡¯d tagged that way was sent inside the closet below him. He then returned to his message before receiving a surprise.


    ¡°Its fine though I¡¯ll eventually find¡­ what¡­ Sparks! How many sparking points was that dude worth!¡± yelled Khalif in shock.


    He¡¯d surpassed Xani and Rob with that last successful chipping. This struckKhalif with the question as to how anyone could either be in as much debt as his previous target. Or manage to evade the masses of cultivators that took on the bounty hunter jobs offered in the Coliseum resort as a whole; for as long as it would take to extend such a huge windfall in his direction as he¡¯d just received.


    ¡°Yo, I see you, boy, find a big fish,¡± read Khalif; before he dropped down from above and texted a response to Rob.


    ¡°One of hopefully many to come, my guy, one of many to come.¡±

 Chapter 56: Influential Kidnappings

    Arson walked out of the portal he¡¯d entered with sweat covering his body from head to toe. Cracks formed from tip to base of the scythe he still held, and those who had bet on his survival celebrated, as the majority was silenced to a stunned silence.


    ¡°You should be dead,¡± said Bobby the announcer in a state of shock rather than a cool and practiced stage whisper. The professional had watched alongside many others Arson¡¯s seemingly simple accomplishment.


    He had almost died many times, as Arson felt one of his greatest weaknesses was a potential beheading, many of which he barely dodged during his recent, workout¡­


    Didn¡¯t know that my title made it so that the mana lock on the event actually prevented me from using mana entirely. Though his face was stoic, he barely kept the tremble from his fingertips. This was the first time he¡¯d felt so close to his own demise in his life, yet he knew it to be far from the truth.


    He was forced to acknowledge that no matter how much power he gained, or weaknesses he overcame, the system could distort the rules around his reality in a fatal war.


    ¡°At the drop of a hat, you¡¯ve run into a trap¡­,¡± said Anastasia softly on his wrist. The words echoed loudly in his ears even through the cheers and above the roar of his own thoughts.


    Think,¡± said Arson to himself. The word enough to jar him free of the dread of the anxiety he felt at the thought of his own death.


    ¡°Analyze,¡± said Arson. Able to move against the fear that had frozen him in place. He took a step forward. A single deep breath accompanied every further step made; he couldn¡¯t help but notice how long it took before his breathing became passive once more.


    ¡°Move¡­,¡± stated Arson as he smiled wide, and lifted the OK symbol for the crowd and announcer once more.


    In that moment even those that had bet against him, had chosen to cheer for him. For what they had just seen would be worthy of praise on any floor of Coliseum.


    ¡°Khalif, are overstays, and large debts your only targets?¡± asked Arson. He hadn¡¯t chosen to speak over the coms until that moment, but once he did his entire group flooded in.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m hunting down the Sharks now,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°What is a Shark exactly, and what did I miss?¡± asked Troy. Arson laughed to himself as he exited the event area and strolled away from the masses that celebrated in the arena behind him.


    ¡°Sharks are clients who buy low entry tickets, corner a piece of the market down here, and stop the availability of certain normally accessible goods and services by only allowing for their people to take place in specific events,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. Jasmine, Lane, continue to climb the floors, everyone else keep doing what you¡¯re doing down here, going to see if I can get us some free points, but don¡¯t forget the joint event here soon,¡± said Arson.


    ¡°What do you want me and Jazz on while you guys are at the joint event,¡± asked Lane.


    ¡°Spread the word, get more people to watch our events, even if they aren¡¯t normally broadcast,¡± responded Arson softly while he approached the betting stands.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t I like some of these requests you are making, Arson you better not¡ª Explosions came through Troy¡¯s end of the coms and stopped her speech.


    ¡°Sparking round started up, don¡¯t think you are getting off without letting me know what you are planning, dude!¡± Troy¡¯s voice came through the coms, surrounded by the sounds of shattering glass and crumbling walls.


    ¡°Oh yeah, Rob, can I get some health potions?¡±


    ¡­


    Rob watched Arson walk into the elite shot for the first floor. He began to hear murmurs about an unfamiliar event with skeletons, and figured Arson had done something outside the norm, and left it at that.


    ¡°How goes it in here, need some extra help?¡± Arson approached with a smile and a death grip on a scythe. Rob could feel a strange energy coming from the weapon and had to shake his head to free himself from the overwhelming sensation that started to make his head hurt.


    ¡°Yeah, I could use some help, my line keeps getting longer for some reason, not like I haven¡¯t seen others mimicking many aspects of my process already, there¡¯s plenty of good¡ªRob stopped talking when he saw the alchemists he¡¯d taken on to help him begin to shake their heads.


    ¡°What, why do you two keep doing that, every time I say that others have perfectly good potions up for offer, you two shake your heads, I mean I¡¯d sparking drink a lot of what is being offered myself in here,¡± stated Rob honestly. Arson was interested in knowing what was going on as well. Rob¡¯s line did seem abnormally long, and had no signs of going down.


    ¡°You really must be new to this, so I guess I¡¯ll just have to put this into simple terms, your product currently has no byproduct, residue, nothing, it goes down, feeds the body and that¡¯s it, no left over toxins that need to be purged from our bodies after being used, honestly I¡¯m beginning to wonder if most of these orders are from Raid Corp individuals themselves just buying up inventory to use themselves or sell for much higher later,¡± said Rob¡¯s assistant. Arson¡¯s eyes widened and he looked over at Rob.


    ¡°Did you appraise or have any of the completed potions appraised before you started to sell them,¡± asked Arson as he picked up a bottle off the table. Rob merely shook his head.


    ¡°Nope, won the competition, and they had me judge a few rounds before they gave me this booth in the elite shop,¡± said Rob. Rob watched his boss squint at the potion, open his mouth to speak, and nothing come out.


    Instead of a response, Rob felt a frown take over his facial features, when Arson swept his hand through the air above his potions, taking them all in a single motion.


    ¡°What the sparks buddy that¡¯s all my inventory, you can¡¯t leave me with at least enough to sell while these two make more?¡± asked Rob both confused and alarmed by Arson¡¯s actions.


    ¡°No¡­, you¡¯re selling these potions at a one hundredth their value, I should slap you around but would be too worried to hurt BHC¡¯s newest cash cow,¡± said Arson low enough for Rob to hear. The laughter in Arson¡¯s voice the only thing that told Rob, Arson was only semi-serious.


    ¡°You know that we can just change the prices, you didn¡¯t have to stop the flow of sales like that, isn¡¯t that worst for business,: asked Rob. Arson smiled and nodded. Then placed a single type of each potion back on the table.


    The aggression had rained in from the line of potential customers instantly, when Arson had simply walked behind the counter, and seemingly stolen Rob¡¯s wares, but when the potion-maker didn¡¯t panic or complain, murmurs began.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Sorry all, demands from higher up, we got major price increases on all product coming, I know, I know, it is real sparked up, but a ten percent discount on anyone who brings someone else with them to purchase when we open back up shortly,¡± said Arson with his arms spread wide toward the crowd as he spoke. He interacted with them as Rob thought Lane would, and watched as Arson¡¯s words turned a groups problem, into excitement with a smile.


    ¡°Get your people back on however the sparks you made these, we are going to need the rest for the event we are all about to join,¡± whispered Arson over his shoulder. Rob nodded, and with an air-bubble-filled chuckle from his rebreather, got back to work, while Arson filled him in on what was to come. The longer he spoke, the more Rob was convinced the young angry boy he¡¯d once known, had been replaced with an older, mad version of himself.


    ¡°Wait¡­ you want me to what now?¡± asked Rob when his portion of Arson¡¯s plan for the next event came into the forefront of Arson¡¯s explanation.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to make low grade poisons to serve like liquor, that stimulate and refine the body while getting cultivators drunk,¡± repeated Arson casually.


    ¡°You want me to lace refinement potions¡­¡± Rob watched Arson take time to rethink his plans. He¡¯d framed his question in hopes to give Arson perspective on how his actions could be seen as potentially bad, but instead the further time to think only seemed to invigorate the strength of the idea within his friend¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Yup¡­ Get Xani and Jasmine to design and craft a label for the alcohol, what do you think of Robbery refinements?¡±


    ¡­


    Ash and her siblings had a new perspective on their younger brother. The rumors that Cro of the Apartment Village being trained by Arson was a shock. A shock their father loved, but affected each of their siblings differently.


    Autumn laughed when Ash realized during one of the many conversations their family had on the subject, that Arson had indeed kept his word. He hadn¡¯t attacked her during the event, within proximity of the predetermined, safe zone, nor had he even been there.


    ¡°Why do you look sad, it¡¯s not like he stripped you of your honor,¡± said Ash. Aura sat in the joint living room of her and her siblings with a frown. She looked around at her brothers and sisters, and sighed.


    ¡°Sorry guys, I know that I¡¯m normally all for family vacation, but this year feels off. Mom is doing her emo destroy the world thing, and Dad is up on the sky island for betting which means there is probably something going on worth checking out on the lower levels,¡± responded Aura vaguely. Her siblings knew her and all shared glances before Ash chose to speak up.


    ¡°So¡­ why don¡¯t you just go and check out the lower levels, not like you don¡¯t have the points to spend on your ticket,¡± said Ash. Auto nodded and picked up his flatscreen off the table to look over some of the upcoming events and popular broadcasts.


    ¡°I was thinking of headed down myself to check some of the build comps this season cycle, heard a buzz about some new group of competitors making a stir on the lower floors,¡± said Auto. Then Aura growled and crossed her arms, which caused Axis to speak up.


    ¡°What¡¯s got you all sparked up, sis, you have been like that since we got here, and you are honestly starting to kill my buzz, even Ash isn¡¯t as ruffled up as you and she just got the sparks choked out of her on live broadcast,¡± said Axis with a hiccup. The girl sipped from a potion bottle with a label that sported five stars on its face in a familiar spiral pattern named Refined Mischief. The girl drank the equivalent to the brand¡¯s version of a wine cooler, and had already told all her friends about the refinement liqueur company. The fewer the stars on the packaging of their label¡¯s face, the higher the quality.


    ¡°I already know what is happening on the lower floors, I stopped looking after my new boss, you met him before Auto, you ate dinner with him the night that Ash lost. He and Arson¡¯s other guild members are down in the lower levels giving Raid Corp absolute issues. If I wasn¡¯t here, would have asked to join that excursion group¡­¡± said Aura with excitement in her voice before she realized she may have over spoken. Ash hadn¡¯t exactly taken her job with the BHC very well, and Aura knew why.


    Aura had once idolized Ash, and now spread that same level of respect evenly amongst more than just her older sister. A sister that didn¡¯t understand the sudden shift from being treated as exalted and revered, to just another loved one.


    ¡°What kinds of things are they doing?¡± said Ash toward Aura, but then Auto spoke up first.


    ¡°So his name was Carter Gestalt, huh, I wonder if that means our rival is here,¡± mumbled Auto.


    ¡°No don¡¯t go in there, you two sparking idiots, oh my maiden, you knew it was a trap!¡± The room looked over at Alexander who hadn¡¯t stopped watching some sort of Kung-fu broadcast that had grown popular where they vacationed.


    ¡°What, don¡¯t look at me like that, Axis is friends with the voice actors and hangs out with them all the time, I wouldn¡¯t even have access to the private stream for Pretty Kung-Fu if she hadn¡¯t given it to me.¡± The others shifted their gazes toward Axis who shrugged.


    ¡°Ooh, have you gotten to my premier yet?¡± asked Axis excited.


    ¡°When did you even have time to record an episode with them,¡± asked Alexander who rushed over to Axis to show her the list of available videos. She marked the one she was scheduled to be revealed, and smiled.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we did all yesterday, I have a couple dozen appearances lined up.¡±


    Then Autumn rose to her feet and headed toward the door of their large vacation apartment suites. She had been like a magician since she found a competition that interested her, and no one had bothered her, but Ash began to wonder¡­


    ¡°Hey, Autumn, what have you been doing again. You seem like the only one of us truly competing this season cycle and normally you¡¯re the only odd man out, maybe Aura and I could join you?¡±


    ¡°Plant and vegetable cultivation needs have increased on the lower levels for some reason, so they made an event on the top floor for speed farming, I could actually use help from all of you guys, if any of you are interested.¡±


    Auto put down his flatscreen and headed toward his eldest sister. While Aura and Ash shared a look, before they joined them at the door.


    ¡°What about you two?¡± asked Ash with a questioning look toward Alexander and Axis. Both shook their heads before Axis spoke up.


    ¡°Got more shows to shoot for my personal broadcast, the BHC broadcasts, and even a few more episodes for the comedy I¡¯m helping Lane and Jazz with, and I think Alexander is going to help me with the cooking show I¡¯m launching for another of the BHC heads,¡± said Axis with another sip from her potion bottle.


    ¡°Be safe you two,¡± said Ash. The fear on her face for her siblings as real as the fire in her blood.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us Ash, you¡¯re the only one of us on Arson¡¯s list,¡± said Alexander with an eye-roll and a laugh.


    ¡°We will see about that¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°You see him?¡± asked Arson. He stood on the second story of a multi tiered building made for massive parties. Arms rested on a railing as he looked out over the crowd at their next target, Arson pushed down his frustration and focused.


    ¡°So how many of the events is it now that have been mana locked again,¡± asked Anastasia.


    ¡°You already know it has been all of them Anastasia,¡± responded Arson. His group¡¯s target hadn¡¯t been noticed, but luckily for Arson he had Xani on his team.


    ¡°Sorry it¡¯s just more funny the higher the number gets, but I don¡¯t think your friend¡¯s drones are going to continue to go unnoticed if you and the others keep winning,¡± stated Anastasia. The AI directed a few of the hand shaped drones inspired by Arson¡¯s own constructs, after Xani had prepared the propeller palm design he drew up and given to her the first night they¡¯d arrived.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, until we are stopped, it is a non-issue,¡± said Arson as he jumped from the second story and made his move.


    The young man Arson chased danced with a handful of beautiful women all at the same time. The urban and rhythmic style of the movements were flashy and well coordinated enough to make the young man appear to give each young lady his full attention.


    Once close enough to be heard through the music that blared all around them, Arson stopped and drew the cracked Scythe from his watches inventory, and waited. People began to notice his fixated gaze, and stepped away from the area.


    Cultivators from all the floors could be found in these party hubs made available to all guests from high to low. This often left the environments just as dangerous as they were fun or enticing.


    ¡°Hey isn¡¯t that the one guy who be beating people up without mana,¡± said one of the nearby cultivators. Arson waved his scythe filled hand in the girl¡¯s direction with an accompanied smile, and more of the crowd started to part around him.


    ¡°So you are really going to keep up this miserable quest for this garbage weapon as well? Come on, Arson, you have plans for much stronger weapons than a simple two-handed scythe,¡± said Anastasia, and Arson crouched with the weapon across his lap.


    ¡°You know at one point in time, I would have agreed with you,¡± said Arson. He ran a finger down the crack that lined the weapon¡¯s body. The lines of Uni-Vare that had started to enter its frame still being absorbed from the sky above since Arson had first used the weapon.


    ¡°Then you received a quest and now you think trash is treasure, I think the dump is having a bad effect on your ability to determine quality,¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°No, I learned that Shield-Bow ammo can literally be anything from arrows to boomerangs and more,¡± responded Arson. The stars in his eyes shown brightly as his core stirred. The pressure of his crown a constant threat as it was held inside his soul realm. His soul¡¯s connection to reality wanted to be freed, but Arson couldn¡¯t let the crown out since the last time had been¡­ explosive.


    ¡°Why does it feel like the weapon wants my crown to be out though?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but pay attention to the sensations his growth both physically and mentally had brought on.


    Since he¡¯d left Endless, he noticed many things about himself that weren¡¯t exactly apparent while he¡¯d been pushed from trial to trial. Such as his restored regeneration levels being increased even further, and his crown¡¯s hunger for absolutely anything.


    ¡°What, y¡¯all can¡¯t keep up with all this fresh?¡± said the young man. Arson was honestly jealous of his dance moves. The guy was talented, which helped Arson gauge how intense the battle to come would be before it¡¯d even started.


    ¡°No, Oscar, there is a guy waiting for you or something,¡± said one of the girls that danced with Arson¡¯s target.


    ¡°So your name is Oscar, cool, always good to know someone¡¯s name before a fight, makes things less formal,¡± said Arson as he came to his feet.


    ¡°Fight, you want to fight with me, seriously,¡± asked Oscar. Arson nodded and saw an intense excitement boil across the young man¡¯s face.


    ¡°You are the third one today, Raid Corp must really want a meeting with me if they made an entire event to kidnap me, hope this isn¡¯t as boring as it has been so far¡­¡±


    Arson shrugged, ¡°Guess we will find out together.¡±

 Chapter 57: Halted Momentum

    Arson and the others walked down the street as a group with the exception of Lane and Jasmine. Troy and Arson in the front, with Rob and Khalif at their flanks.


    Rob and Khalif dragged a thrashing figure behind their party. Their previous target Oscar who was inside the bag, constantly cursed at them through the air holes the basic black-op tool offered, and moved around enough to annoy Khalif and Rob thoroughly when the straps were yanked free of their grips.


    ¡°You sure I can¡¯t kick him,¡± asked Khalif.


    ¡°No, you kicked him enough already before we got him into the bag, Khal, and I think it¡¯s a crime to do any further damage to a cultivator once they¡¯re inside one of those,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Think I read that somewhere too,¡± added Rob.


    The group walked into the bounty office and the woman behind the desk waved at Khalif and Arson, before greeting Troy and Rob, more familiar with the former than the latter.


    ¡°You two are going to get in trouble if you keep this up, soon we will be sending mandatory bounties for meetings for you two,¡± said one of the attendees to Arson and Khalif.


    ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± said Arson, which caused the second attendant to elbow her coworker.


    ¡°I told you they are trying to get access to the sky resort like the high nobles,¡± whispered the woman conspiratorially. Arson winked at the woman and Troy rolled her eyes.


    She had made note that his looks had only gotten better now that he was older. His other friends told him that he looked like a cross between the king and Jade somehow, which Arson thought was funny as only Troy knew who his birth mother was.


    ¡°Well we only have one other high paying abduction meeting contract currently and that is for someone on the top floor, the job would come with temporary access to the floor, and would even grant a free day time slot for your group¡¯s own tickets,¡± said the first attendant. Arson didn¡¯t even ask the details before he nodded and extended his watch over the woman¡¯s workstation.


    Then he saw the face of his target; the details for the job; as well as the true extent of the rewards, and felt he¡¯d just walked into a trap.


    ¡°You gotta be sparking kidding me¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Feed the World!¡± The chant was repeated over and over. The massive stadium held seats around large plantations with empty, unworked fields.


    Weaved in-between the fields were paths that connected each field to one another. An intricate design that looked like a maze from the stands above was made with every completion of this event, and many of the fans were simply there for the art and skill displayed by the farmers of the cultivation realms.


    ¡°Welcome cultivators from far and wide, to another round of Feed the World!¡±


    The cheering boomed throughout the area for miles, as even though the event was new, it now had one of the largest followings, and some of the highest attending rates throughout all of Coliseum.


    Ash and the rest of her siblings waited for Autumn to arrive, and couldn¡¯t help but smile when she did and the roar of the crowd increased.


    Autumn was a fan favorite, and had been given the most dry and barren of all the paths and field options available.


    Where Ash had once thought this to be a slight, it was instead seen as an honor. No one could claim to be better than someone who develops a higher grade of product with lesser ingredients or tools. Talent and skill or the lack thereof were all seen as normal in the cultivation world, so in the end no one held Autumn¡¯s power against her.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the move this time, sister, same as usual or what?¡± Autumn looked at Ash, Aura, and Auto and shook her head, ¡°No, this time I want to try Auto¡¯s water path idea.¡±


    The group smiled and took their places at the center of the field and waited for the round to begin.


    ¡°Hey, did you see that?¡± asked Auto. A flash of metal in the corner of his vision shaped oddly like a metallic hand moved rapidly across the ground, but when he looked, all that was there was a mix of sand and dirt.


    No way I imagined that, right? Maybe all those days of studying the BHC drones from satellite imagery is starting to get to me?


    Auto tried to focus on what he needed to do. He hadn¡¯t thought he¡¯d actually be helping when he originally came with his sister, his intention to be a strong moral support from the stands.


    Instead, he ended up designing mobile watering drones for Autumn to use during her competition. Being forced to rush the designs and construction, led to his involvement being more direct than he wanted at first.


    After a few rounds of victories alongside his siblings, he felt proud of himself. Ash no longer frowned constantly, and Auto felt better, not realizing how his sister¡¯s sour mood had been affecting him.


    The countdown started and Auto prepared his drones. The bodies of the equipment were shaped like bowls the size of small closets, that floated above mana rings, forged from mana stones inscribed to support their team¡¯s needs.


    The mana rings directed movement, how large the holes were for watering, and even water temperatures. A feature they figured out the first time they used Ash¡¯s ability to form an artificial sun.


    Ash raised her hands above her head as the crowd¡¯s chant of the countdown finally reached its completion,¡°Let¡¯s get this party started!¡±


    A few moments prior, 1000 meters away underground¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s get this started,¡± said Arson. He and the others were in a tunnel being dug by Xani¡¯s Propeller Palm Drones. The blades at the center of the devices¡¯ hand-shaped bodies, had been adapted to be able to dig. Dig at a speed that had made both Arson and Xani wonder if they were overlooking the potential of her newest designs.


    ¡°Sometimes I wonder if we aren¡¯t normal,¡± said Khalif in a daze. Rob nodded in agreement.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re right, I keep trying to ignore it, but this sparking situation ain¡¯t got a thing simple about it,¡± added Rob with a chuckle.


    ¡°Aww, it isn¡¯t that bad, we are currently in a high grade tunnel, literally being made as we walk through it,¡± said Xani. Dozens of hands moved around their group in synchronized motions. Some compacted dirt, others built pillars, and the rest dug the tunnel worthy of a subway train by the breath.


    ¡°And we are going to abduct our boss¡¯s sister to get points for our team building vaca¡ª Xani began to feel absurd about how casually she described their goings on and ended up nodding to herself instead of finishing.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Look guys, I¡¯m sorry to tell you this, but Arson didn¡¯t pick people to work with at the orphanage for our discipline and strong decision making skills, he chose based on kindness, personal ability and our acknowledgement for the potential of something larger than ourselves, if you wanted simple and safe, you already had that,¡± said Troy with a glance toward the others and then up at Arson. He smiled and nodded at her words, appreciative that she was able to understand his own process, even without fully having to describe where and why his thoughts led him to certain decisions.


    Troy lit their path with light orbs as they walked, without a single touch of pressure about what was to come. She was still trying not to blush when Arson took her by the hand casually wherever they went. Then realized that there may be some legitimacy in what her friends were saying if handholding took up more space in her mind as a hurdle than her next abduction event.


    Hmmm, maybe we are a little off¡­ should we consider counseling or something, thought Troy to herself momentarily. Then felt an immediate revulsion to the thought, with the absolute sense that she was happier than she¡¯d ever been and didn¡¯t want much to change in her life beside her ability to defend her loved ones improving.


    ¡°Hey, I hear you, but we are about to abduct a princess, that don¡¯t seem a little crazy to you,¡± asked Rob.


    ¡°Not really, honestly lost count of how many important people I have had to abduct over the last few season cycles,¡± said Arson, who¡¯d long ago lost any reservation against doing the hard thing.


    He was there to rebalance his team. With the exception of Arson not knowing their full capabilities, and them consistently referring to him as small around others, all team work levels had increased which made Arson excited for what they would be able to do with more time. Time he wished he had to take things slowly.


    ¡°How long Xani?¡±


    We¡­ should be underneath center stage in no time flat. Are you sure you want to snatch her up here? She is providing us with most of the materials we need for Rob¡¯s potions,¡± said Xani, apprehension clear in her tone. Her finger sat over a button on her flatscreen tablet, while she waited for Arson¡¯s response.


    ¡°Yeah, if anything we may have to abduct her a second time, and work out a way for her to make us an excess of ingredients for what we need next.¡±


    Xani nodded. Pressed the button her finger hovered over and spoke through the explosion at the end of the tunnel that opened up the roof and let in natural sunlight, ¡°Noted¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Ash couldn¡¯t help but smile. Autumn stood atop a literal walking tree, its head a platform that gave her a vantage of all nearby fields; its arms made of branches that held Ash even higher above her eldest sister.


    ¡°You good up there?¡± yelled Autumn up to Ash. She nodded back at her sister and laughed as she pumped more power into her skill.


    ¡°Now this is farming,¡± exclaimed Ash in joy. The giant ball of flames above the walking tree was an odd purple that seemed to feed the vegetation below at an unparalleled rate. Ash was only capable of this feat due to Autumn burning an odd crystal she formed from her own mana into Ash¡¯s flames.


    Auto sat below Autumn, surrounded by branches in a protective cage. He only needed to be able to see far enough to direct the watering drones, but Autumn decided to protect him at Ash¡¯s direction.


    Ash quickly realized her eldest sister¡¯s walking tree seemed to be far more dextrous and regenerated far more quickly when it had access to water, which made her brother¡¯s safety their group¡¯s highest priority.


    ¡°Incoming!¡± roared Aura. She was the only one of their group not linked to the body of the walking tree, Autumn wanted to name Titan.


    A group of cultivators from another team rushed to block their path, as another team flew toward them through the sky. Aura charged the group on the ground while Autumn shifted her focus.


    The group''s objective was to plant their given crop on as many fields as possible. Paths were worth a small amount of points while a team¡¯s main field was worth all the points used to enter the competition.


    Autumn¡¯s only job, beside guiding her walking tree, was to consistently fill the drones Auto directed with water. The massive torrent of twisted liquid and air friction she held spawned small clouds of water in the air all around their group while they pushed toward their third enemy field.


    ¡°Autumn¡¯s clouds served multiple purposes as they grew denser, rather than larger. The small pressurized containers would burst with gushes of water when filled, rather than offering normal sized rain drops. This both filled their team¡¯s watering drones, as well as provided a constant flooding of all the enemy fields they walked by.


    Regardless of how much extra water there was though, Auto was still forced to move drones in front of the tree to maintain a water filled path for it to regenerate and move, as well as provide optimal water for the seeds Aura scattered everywhere to grow.


    Aura quickly managed to take down the group of defenders in front of her to Ash¡¯s amazement. She occasionally twisted the flames above herself to decimate enemy fields, anddefend against aerial targets, all in addition to creating a perfect ecosystem for plant growth.


    In their group¡¯s minds, nothing could stop them. Some teams consisted of 25 cultivators and some even brought 100 or more, but were still overwhelmed by their combined might.


    ¡°Hey guys, does this seem even easier than normal,¡± yelled Autumn in question to Ash and the others. Ash looked around and didn¡¯t notice anything wrong, but still felt her stomach momentarily twist at the words.


    ¡°Last time I felt like this¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you guys see that, seriously, I could have sworn I just saw a metallic hand¡ª Auto¡¯s warning was cut off and mini explosions could be heard all around them. Entire fields crumpled inward, cultivators and crops alike swallowed whole by the earth below themselves.


    The crowd exploded with excitement and the announcer began to turn the action into a crowd turning frenzy.


    ¡°By the Maiden!¡± The crowd was on their feet and more explosions went off, one even timed perfectly to open a hole underneath the walking trees next step.


    ¡°Son of a sparking forest fire,¡± cursed Ash as the only thing that held her aloft began to topple. The level of intensity grew, and Ash had a feeling that what was occurring was not a planned piece of the event the moment she saw a young beautiful man climb free of one of the many holes made nearby, a scythe in hand.


    ¡°Oh Sparks!¡± yelled Aura.


    ¡°My boss is here!¡±


    ¡­


    Arson jumped free of the hole and took in the area. He wasn¡¯t mana locked, but decided that his mana usage was probably too dangerous for an environment. He didn¡¯t want anyone to die, he just needed to snatch his eldest sister and leave¡­


    No big deal, just a snatch and grab. What could go wrong?


    Arson felt he¡¯d just jinxed himself, but hoped that maybe not speaking the words aloud would keep away the manifestation of trouble.


    ¡°Yeah right, Arson,¡± he mumbled under his breath while he ducked an incoming wave of flames. To Arson he wasn¡¯t an entity to change the flow of combat. He wanted to embody potential, and kept that thought alive in his mind at all times.


    Though he had great effect on what occurred at any point in any battle he¡¯d been a part of since his childhood, Arson had a skewed view of power. His siblings all were threats of their own, but Arson didn¡¯t compare himself to them, but their parents and their peers.


    Not that he held the same level of significance as those figures, but comparably the same mindset, or unyielding willpower.


    Arson sliced through a wave of flames and snickered to himself as he felt his scythe drink in the energy of the odd white and purple tinted fire. He didn¡¯t know where the flames came from, but decided not to press forward into the battle while his new weapon ate the incoming attacks.


    A cultivator was confused when Arson extended his blade in their direction with a slice that blocked a large flaming projectile from hitting them; only to spin the weapon back toward them in the very next instant.


    Arson launched the young woman in the air, using her body to stop the large cloud of explosive water that shot toward him. With a screaming slap against a cloud larger than the woman¡¯s entire person, a hydronic explosion occurred.


    The young woman struck against the cloud that had been as dense as sandstone or even marble, which had caused the explosion initially. Arson moved underneath her body while she hurtled through the air and crash-landed behind him in a trench made by another cultivator¡¯s attack.


    Arson glanced back and worried if the girl was okay. The trench was large and may have led into one of his team¡¯s pre-built tunnels. Then Troy rose from the hole with the woman over her shoulder and Arson sighed.


    ¡°Glad I put them on damage control, the publicity would be bad if I gathered a whole bunch of carnage on the footage I pass on to Lane,¡± said Arson to Anastasia. A horizontal swipe of his weapon caused a charging foe to tuck their head in an attempt to duck, which Arson used.


    He grabbed the man by the shoulder and with a jerk, pushed the man further down, all while he jumped forward and rolled off the man¡¯s back.


    The spartan kick he delivered once he landed on a completely separate enemy, ended the first part of his attack. With the full power of his hips as if he was about to perform a conductive waters enhanced spin kick, Arson spun on a dime and hooked the man he¡¯d rolled over, and launched the man at some sort of giant tree monster in the distance..


    Next, with a burst of speed, he appeared before the man he¡¯d spartan-kicked and grabbed him by the throat, ¡°Sorry about this¡­!¡±


    ¡°Aah!¡± The man screamed when Arson raised him like a shield and used his body to block another explosive water cloud he now knew came from the tree.


    ¡°I know I haven¡¯t said this before, guys, but my older sister might be a problem here,¡± said Arson over his group¡¯s Overlay Com-Link.


    ¡°Ya think?¡± blurted Khalif. Arson chuckled to himself. He¡¯d given Khalif the hardest part of the abduction plan, and when Arson saw the humanoid shaped bodies begin to form from the tree in the distance and defend the large creature, he knew that difficulty was only going to grow.


    ¡°Figure it out buddy we are running out of time.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Figure it out buddy, we are running out of time,¡± Ash yelled down toward Auto. Her younger brother was being swarmed by panicked cultivators who attempted to flee from the giant tree¡¯s branches they¡¯d been literally flung into, twirling through the air like tossed boulders.


    ¡°Figure it out, are you sparking kidding me right now, I brought none of my gear, this was supposed to be a bloody simple farming exercise, that¡¯s what you told me,¡± screamed Auto as he smashed cultivators with his tablet. By that point, all of his drones had been set for defensive patterns that allowed for his sister¡¯s plants, her primary weapon, to flourish regardless of his attention.


    ¡°Get these idiots off of me!¡±


    Aura fought on the side of the tree. Sky blue energies flowed free of her pores while she battled and climbed toward her elder brother¡¯s panicked screams.


    ¡°Calm down Auto. I¡¯m coming, dude!¡±


    Ash tried not to get dizzy, but the struggled lurches that now came with the trees every movement made her head spin. She was glad when the tree finally stopped and Autumn began to spawn plant-bodied defenders against the enemy teams that battled all around them, and the duo of enemies that had emerged from underground.


    She focused and tried to push back all who rushed them with massive flame-based attacks, but even that didn¡¯t last long.


    Ash was forced to watch a scythe wielding young man that Aura said to be her boss, throw a glowing brown haired girl into the air, directly at her. At first she¡¯d mistook the cultivator as another flung distraction, but the image of what had been done replayed again in her mind.


    Did he just give her a boost?¡­ She looked again at the young woman that had been thrown and realized a moment too late that the Queen of Troy was a breath away from entering the battle.


    ¡°We got a problem!¡±

 Chapter 58: Contracted

    Jade tried not to watch over her son, but she couldn¡¯t help herself. She¡¯d never been able to see how her mother could seem so rewarded each time Jade herself had grown as a child or young adult, but now¡­


    ¡°Kick him, boy, you are better than that!¡± An entire wall of Jade¡¯s lab displayed a hologram of a Raid Corp broadcast named Feed the World. Jade froze after Troy was sent through the air toward a giant tree, and heel dropped out of the sky through a miniature purple white sun that seemed to be growing darker until Troy¡¯s actions.


    ¡°Ooh,¡± murmured Jade, as a large corona was created by the burst orb of flames. The shard of mana stone in her hand was three times larger than her palm and grew hot the closer it came to the perfect placement within the mana core she worked on. The heat pulled her eyes from the holograms temporarily, and she missed Troy¡¯s kick land.


    She fit the piece of mana stone where she thought it went and smiled when it was pulled from her fingertips and snapped into place linked seamlessly next to its brothers and sisters.


    She had completed more of the core of Ikarus than any of her ancestral predecessors. Almost half of the tribal sun¡¯s structure had been restored from its base upward. A multi-colored symphony of pieces hummed with an inner light that vibrated and filled the gymnasium sized room around her while she worked.


    ¡°One piece at a time,¡± said Jade, before she turned back to the holograms. She didn¡¯t have to move from where she was to get another piece of the mana core. She simply bent down and picked up another piece from the trillions of shards piled a few feet around the entire 101 foot perimeter of the construction.


    She didn¡¯t have to walk around its border to find where the next section to fit the piece belonged either, but old habits sometimes didn¡¯t die in immortals ever, and this habit had been formed when she had been a mortal and couldn¡¯t use her power to shift the construction mentally.


    At least I don¡¯t use it like a table anymore, I dare not face the shard of my mother left inside the purity of gravity if she were to find out, thought Jade with a sigh.


    Mom, I bet you would still try and kill me for that one. Jade couldn¡¯t help but laugh at where her mind took her. Though with each action the children in front of her took, the more she returned to the present mentally.


    She rarely took her eyes off the screen, more and more proud of her son and his friends with every breath taken. More and more proud of what she taught them shining through their newly forming bonds and foundations within cultivation.


    They were improving rapidly, and though she regretted sending her son away to grow on his own, she now knew her actions to be justified. He¡¯d needed a solid independence to be able to lead the impressive group of orphans he¡¯d gathered by his side.


    ¡°I have now seen your growth, your grace, and so much more, it is time to show your purpose and your prominence, my son.¡±


    ¡­


    Rob had to admit he was having an absolute blast. He had terrible aim, but a countless number of disposable potions that had gone wrong during their creation process stuffed away within his spatial backpack.


    He¡¯d at first been throwing them away, but when he¡¯d mention to Arson that some could cause violent effects due to being spoiled¡­ he felt ashamed that he hadn¡¯t thought of using them as potential weapons before his young leader proposed the idea.


    Now, cultivators ate potions all around Rob. At first he¡¯d wasted a lot of potions with a lack of proper aim, but what he¡¯d proven far better at doing was handing the potions over to the flying robotic hands with next to perfect aim all around himself.


    ¡°Here you go,¡± said Rob before another hand swooped in and grabbed a bottle from his upturned palm. He winced when the hand didn¡¯t even manage to throw the potion but collided with a young woman¡¯s face at full speed. The girl didn¡¯t even get up before the hallucinations set in and she writhed on the floor under attack from absolutely nothing but old ingredients and improper manufacturing processes. Rob found this hilarious and chuckled heartily at each person effected this way.


    ¡°Rob, I don¡¯t know what you think is so funny, you are softer than most of these¡ª Khalif¡¯s words in the coms cut off when a cultivator managed to sneak up on Rob only for the chef to flip him over his back and slam down a potion into the man¡¯s face.


    ¡°What were you saying, my guy, I couldn¡¯t hear you with all the sparks I¡¯m putting into the opposition,¡± said Rob impersonating a mobster the whole time.


    ¡°Look boss, I get it, I can sneak around, cool whatever, but throw a guy a break and give me the break neck job every once in a while,¡± said Khalif annoyed.


    ¡°Noted,¡± said Arson through the coms, and Rob didn¡¯t expect him to respond. Last time he¡¯d seen Khalif he¡¯d managed to teleport into the branches that surrounded Arson¡¯s brother Auto.


    Then to Rob¡¯s further surprise, a new voice entered the coms, ¡°Hey boss, it¡¯s Aura, I know you have been snatching up prominent figures on vacation for Raid Corp, and I¡¯m guessing your here for Autumn, but could you please not kidnap my sister?¡±


    ¡­


    Rob¡¯s laughter in the calms after Aura managed to use her work link to join the coms made Arson roll his eyes, even as he sliced through the explosive clouds all round himself. The powerful attacks reminded him of larger condensed versions of his own conductive water orbs, but he pushed potential upgrades of his own attack aside to respond to his older sister.


    ¡°Sorry Aura, I gotta get up to the sky island and talk with the king, nothing personal,¡± responded Arson with a heavy cleave that made a dozen of the clouds around him pop like soap bubbles filled with miniature storms.


    ¡°What, you need to speak to my dad? Why didn¡¯t you just ask me? I can work that out,¡± said Aura. Arson pushed through the field of explosions all around him, sliding through the torrents of exploding water with exact movements, his sister¡¯s words growing more frantic with every burst of speed that came with his powerful blast of momentum forward. Each step making him vanish and reappear closer to his sibling¡¯s position.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°How many bloody anomalies can our brother and these BHC Black Hole bastards find?¡± yelled Ash in the background of Aura¡¯s coms.


    ¡°Shut up, Ash! Things are about to get much worse if we don¡¯t do something now,¡± yelled Aura. Arson sighed, knowing that his sister was correct, things were about to get much, much worse.


    ¡°Sorry Aura, BHC¡­.,¡± started Arson, a half completed statement left in the air momentarily picked up by every other member on the coms in the next breath.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t do favors!¡±


    Arson charged forward and began his assault on the humanoid tree figures that gushed out of the large trees main body. The smaller forms seemed even stronger than the skeletons Arson fought recently, and were far more accurate than clumsy in their movements.


    ¡°Xani, block Aura¡¯s access to the coms for the day, and begin the final phase.¡±


    Large clumps of the tree figures were either sliced in half or thrown aside. Arson then shifted stances into his flicker stance, and the flow of combat changed once more.


    Arson still unaware of the forms that painted the sky when he used his own created style of combat, pushed beyond the limits of natural skill.


    The forms above him in the sky shifted constantly, different images performing his exact movements across various battlefields, all throughout time and space.


    The legacy he attempted to inherit by his pure focus on his current weapon united many different combat styles, made and perfected long ago. Only, Arson¡¯s every movement was a perfected feint, parry, counter, grab, or even combination. Actions cultivators throughout existence used to survive and grow, now instinctually completed and transformed by Arson.


    ¡°Hey, little buddy, turn it down a little,, we have to make this look like a struggle remember?¡± Xani¡¯s voice came through the coms, and though Arson heard the words, his focus was powerful enough to drown out the sensation as white noise.


    With each perfected movement with the broken scythe, a line of power pierced the sky like falling stars to enter his weapon. This occurrence normally happened a handful of times throughout a cultivator¡¯s life, no matter how long their immortal existences were, but had happened every breath he took almost since the beginning of the fight.


    Only beings of extreme high levels of cultivation could witness the images above Arson, but the energies of the legacies he tapped into naturally had started to pulse out from the scythe he used, making the weapon¡¯s growing aura visible to all around.


    ¡°Arson, you okay, I¡¯m struggling to hold back too but you¡¯re leaking mana,¡± said Troy into the coms. Her voice did pierce his focus enough for him to glance at himself. It was then that he realized something was different, but not wrong enough for him to stop.


    ¡°I¡¯m not using any mana, the scythe is doing something¡­¡± Arson¡¯s voice was low and filled with power to the point that it was heard not only by his team through the coms, but all through the battlefield they fought on. Then the notification popped up in Arson¡¯s vision and he cursed aloud.


    Skeletal Horde wave 2/3: Mana Locked Event, survive for great reward. *System Alert* Scythe metamorphosis currently in progress, determination for necessary increased event difficulty processing¡­


    Come on, come on, show me some love and don¡¯t make this any worse than the situation already sparking is! Arson¡¯s mental prayers went unanswered as usual, and he wanted to rage at what came next.


    Increased difficulty determination processed. All qualifications met. Increase mandatory. Simultaneous wave summoning initiated.


    Skeletal Horde waves 2-3: mana locked event. Survive and gain access to upgradable skeletal horde spell and more. *System Alert* uncompleted cores cannot use magic of the immortal grade due to instantaneous fatality potential. Spell will be locked within Overlay if gained until immortal ranks system usage is acquired by user: Sovereign Arson Omni.


    ¡°Guys, we got a problem, Troy turn things up all the way, you too Xani, Rob if you got anything else hidden in the bag, do it now, Khalif, hitman tactics, get my siblings out of here now and bag Autumn if you can manage it, otherwise just stay alive!¡±


    ¡­


    Troy didn¡¯t know what was going on with Arson. She¡¯d been using her advanced levels of speed to plague the giant tree with hard-light clone attacks from the creatures seeming blindspots, when Arson suddenly yelled in a panic.


    A panic she didn¡¯t feel the situation deserved. Until a portal half the size of the field they were all in opened in the sky above them face down.


    ¡°Are those¡­¡± Troy didn¡¯t finish the sentence. Instead she moved. Skeletons of various shape, size and even species started to fall from the sky through the portal¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Spark no boss, I¡¯m out, you said beat up some cultivators and your siblings, this, this is above my pay grade!¡± Troy didn¡¯t laugh at Rob. She didn¡¯t blame him for wanting to leave, as before training in the dump, a situation like this would have clearly been something she wouldn¡¯t sign up for willingly.


    Yet when she looked for Rob to support his retreat, she found him amidst the action, with no seeming intention of leaving. Instead he was lifted into the air by two of the robotic hands Xani created, and lofted explosive gas like potions that dissolved the skeletons and ate through the humanoid trees being summoned and spawned equally without discrimination.


    ¡°Sorry about this, Aura, bossman says it¡¯s time to take off the kid gloves and wrap this up,¡± said Khalif into the coms. All that could be heard after that was Arson¡¯s siblings¡¯ screams of terror, and frantic and shock filled battle cries.


    Khalif could be seen as he teleported all throughout the tree. In a single combination of movements and skills, Khalif, teleported behind his target, knocked them out, and sent them through his short range shadow gateways.


    Sparks that¡¯s scary to see at a distance, thought Troy. She knew that Khalif had issue with the power gap he saw between himself and Arson, even before he¡¯d left, but still hadn¡¯t acknowledged his own growth under Jade either.


    Then her eyes fell momentarily on her favorite person, and the weapon he held, and felt her own guts twist in envy momentarily, before it transformed into pride. She too battled with how powerful she wanted to be, and how powerful her partner had become, but watching him filled her with light and honor.


    Arson¡¯s hair moved through the air as if he was at the center of a violent storm. Her heart fluttered as the increase of enemies swelled to the point that she could no longer see him, but when she felt a swell of rage push through their bond and Arson crush every enemy that separated them in a blink, she knew she wasn¡¯t alone.


    The sight of him made her push herself harder. Harder than she ever had before.


    ¡°Come on! Bring it!¡± Dozens of hard-light clones burst free of Troy¡¯s body and spread out in various directions. There were no more cultivators beside her own team and Arson¡¯s siblings left under the rain of Skeletons, which gave her more than enough targets to let loose on.


    When Troy felt the sensation she¡¯d been training emerge once more, she let it consume her, mind, body, and soul. The push and pull of light energies twisted violently around herself, and hundreds of skeletons began to explode underneath the pressure of her mana¡¯s aura, and the pressure of her blows.


    ¡°Hey boss,¡± attempted Xani. She got no answer, only grunts and the sounds of skeletal bodies being crushed. So went down the chain of command.


    ¡°Troy, Troooy, Troy!¡± She still received no answer, and eventually decided for herself.


    ¡°Khalif, Rob, we have the target, we are getting out of here now, boss and Troy will catch up when they are done,¡± said Xani through the coms and for the first time since the battle started she flew from underground. A runic fireball exploded out from her palm with a ferocity that sent all the skeletons near the hole she flew from to be sent scattered through the air around her exit point.


    ¡­


    Aura watched as her boss made a mockery of their defenses. Then she was forced to defend herself against the sky itself. A crowd that was normally very peaceful and fun loving, had turned into a group of individuals affected by the same mob mentality at an execution; coldhearted and out for blood.


    ¡°Feed. The. World! Feed. The. World!¡± A once uplifting chant, changed by circumstance, now filled Aura with the dread of her own potential death. When she looked at her boss after realizing she may die there, her heart skipped a beat.


    He shredded, sliced, tore and sundered foes with an aggression that stole the emotion from his face, his normal smile gone, as a serene focus masked him with power and potential.


    Yet, even though all those left on the battlefield gave it their all, and even Aura managed to push herself beyond her previous limits, the chant of the crowd changed. Not to her sister¡¯s name, who spawned an army of her own. Nor to her brother that managed to change his watering drones into weighted wrecking balls and smash skeletons by the tens.


    She even would have thought that Troy deserved the attention of the crowd with how her aura seemed to dissolve and absorb her enemies like rain to desert sands. Or Ash, who¡¯d turned her body into a literal green sun of intense flames above them all. Instead all she could hear beyond the chant that was the event¡¯s name, was the name of her boss, a man she now considered the equivalent to a pure bred demon.


    ¡°Carter Gestalt! Carter Gestalt! Carter Gestalt!¡±

 Chapter 59: Family versus Connections

    ¡°AAAH!¡± Autumn woke up and sat upright. She found herself in a comfortable chair, but was frantic to wipe the sleep from her eyes, still unsure about where she was.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± She looked around after a few more rapid blinks and finally was able to see the conference room she was in.


    The floor to ceiling windows reminded her of ancient cathedrals. The walls were seamless, but held carvings of many historical battles known commonly to HonorBorn cultivators of all ages.


    ¡°You are in a RaidCorp conference room,¡± said a kind woman beside Autumn that made her jump in surprise. She turned to take in the kind looking woman, with a business suit and a name tag that read, Sprinter in bold and simple font.


    ¡°Who are you, and why am I here?¡± asked Autumn. The woman at first pointed to her name tag as if that were a sufficient enough answer, but spoke up after Autumn couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at the woman.


    ¡°My name is Sprinter, and I am here to be your assigned attendant for your meeting with the executives of my company, as well as your friends and family,¡± said the woman with a smile.


    ¡°What friends?¡± Sprinter gestured far down the table at Autumn¡¯s question, and Autumn turned to see a young man there,. Only for flashbacks to strike her immediately with a storm of images that came at her like a flood.


    The young man had assaulted Auto, taking him out of the fight so quickly Autumn hadn¡¯t been able to react. She had only felt a flicker of movements through the roots of Titan before Auto¡¯s earpiece went dead.


    Before she knew it, a figure rose out of her own shadow. The tall silver haired boy had climbed out of her shadow the moment she filled her hands to attack a group of nearby raging skeletons. She followed through with the original attack, knowing circumstances would be worse for her siblings if she didn¡¯t, but was still unnerved by the smile he wore when he grabbed her ankle and said,¡± Autumn, right? Kinda gotta make sure I grab the right sister?¡±


    Autumn blinked and found herself mentally back in the conference room, facing the same smile. Then another two voices entered the room and both Autumn and the silver haired young man she believed to be Arson¡¯s friend turned to see who was coming.


    ¡°If you trashcan babies have done anything to my sister, I¡¯m going to burn down that little orphanage you all called home and feed the ashes to the mothers that didn¡¯t claim¡ª¡° Ash entered the room first, but cut herself off when she saw Autumn. Autumn nodded at her younger sister, who just so happened to be bumped out of the entryway when Troy entered behind her. The shoulder check shouldn¡¯t have been enough to move Ash, but Autumn was beginning to believe that her youngest brother¡¯s friend group wasn¡¯t as normal and low born as everyone around her speculated they were.


    ¡°My bad, didn¡¯t see you there,¡± said Troy while she lifted Ash off the ground with a single hand before her sister could react.


    ¡°Get your filthy hands off me,¡± said Ash with a swipe at Troy that missed entirely. Troy had the girl on her feet and was already headed toward the other young man in the room with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Hey, where are the others?¡± asked Khalif. Troy rolled her eyes before she looked at Sprinter.


    ¡°Do you have any screens that could bring up what is happening in the Feed the World event zone?¡± Sprinter nodded at Troy and with a slight gesture, the table in front of them twisted with light and sound, before the area they¡¯d just been in was revealed.


    ¡°What the sparks is that guy,¡± said Ash at Autumn¡¯s side. She mumbled the words, but all had heard what she said even through the large gaps of space between each chair, and over the volume of the holograms.


    ¡°Carter Gestalt, first Fearless title holder to ever be tested in the lower floors,¡± said Sprinter. Autumn looked at the woman and then back at Carter.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for how many skeletons I am witnessing here, I¡¯d call you a liar,¡± said Autumn with a mumble of her own. The scene in front of her was something she felt college Sekt cultivators were capable of after many years of guidance under the tutelage offered by multiple masters.


    ¡°Why is his Scythe pulsing like that,¡± asked Ash. Autumn wanted to know as well, but had decided not to ask out of fear of being looked at as uneducated.


    ¡°No clue, but you can ask him when he gets here,¡± said the silver haired boy who also stared at the sight before them in awe.


    ¡°If I¡¯m right, it has something to do with a legacy, didn¡¯t know he was skilled enough with a scythe to receive one, but regardless, something¡¯s weird about his weapon¡¯s ascension,¡± said Sprinter.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Troy. Autumn watched the attendant look around at all who¡¯d gathered and sighed before she spoke up again.


    ¡°Some skilled in weapon craft or stylized combat, can be offered certain access to energies that other cultivators of lesser discipline will never gain,¡± said Sprinter.


    ¡°What kind of energy lets you do all of that without mana,¡± asked Troy after Carter spun and a wave of power rippled outward. The strength of the blow enough cut entire waves of enemies in half in under a breath. While the energy it was infused with, further dismantled foes it chopped, mincing the bones it touched like a freshly sharpened chef¡¯s knife.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°For weapon users in the world of cultivation, there are pools of energy that lay untapped both in the air we breathe and the ambient mana all around us. If you have ever taken a basic science class, you know that air is made up of different element particles, but what is mana made of?¡± Sprinter looked at them all when she spoke to register with everyone there that the question was for any one of them, but Autumn was surprised when Troy answered.


    ¡°Mana is made up of the excess of life energy made by the realm, on top of the ambient mana strong cultivators push free of their pores, like a natural weather system, we the cultivators feed the realm basic minerals through our elemental affinities, and it refines the energies and makes pure mana for us to intake, but what is that energy around his weapon made of,¡± said Troy with a gesture at Carter. The group wondered why he¡¯d only used the weapon to fight; the same question apparent on all of their faces.


    ¡°This energy is something that leads to the use of Uni-Vare, with the swing of a sword or any weapon for that matter, there are intentions and emotions involved, things used only when cultivators are truly at their limits, or when they have to dig deep and the only thing pushing them forward is their inner will to live, that energy unless tapped into, is stored naturally in our environment, the mana all around us, or sometimes for the truly skilled and lucky cultivators, the energy is stored within their own weapons, or their bodies instead.¡± Sprinter once more pointed at Carter¡¯s weapon, but before she could continue more people entered the room.


    ¡°Sorry, we had to beat you guys up like that, boss¡¯s orders.¡± A young man with a rebreather said with a pat on Aura¡¯s shoulder while they entered the room alongside a girl who wore a robotic glove.


    ¡°Oh hey you two, where is Auto,¡± asked Aura with a look at her older sisters. The two young women shared a look, and the older shook her head, while the younger shrugged.


    ¡°I¡¯m over here, sorry I¡¯m late, had a secondary meeting. Don¡¯t look at me like that, Ash, I¡¯ll tell you later,¡± said Auto as he sat down beside Aura, who had just sat next to the rest of their sisters.


    ¡°So this Carter guy is strong enough to get one of these legacies,¡± said Ash, restoring the conversation about what was being seen in front of their eyes. Sprinter chuckled then, and the response the group received absolutely floored each and every person there.


    ¡°No, this must be completely different, he is most likely receiving many legacies at once. Normally, this sight is of such a small magnitude that it is only perceivable by cultivators with incredible amounts of mana circulating through their bodies, the fact that we are able to see the energy being granted is honestly mind-boggling to witness,¡± explained Sprinter.


    ¡°Hmm, anyone else wishing they didn¡¯t have to leave,¡± asked the silver haired boy. The nods that came from everyone excluding Ash, herself, and Auto shocked Autumn to the point that she wondered if she should ask the names of the people in the room she didn¡¯t know yet. She¡¯d worked alongside many of the members of Black Hole, but never spent time with her brother¡¯s closest friends beside Troy.


    ¡°Hey, Troy, can you introduce us to everyone? Or maybe you can, Aura,¡± asked Autumn with a look between Troy and her sister. Troy nodded and introductions began.


    ¡­


    Troy was surprised by how easily her friends seemed to get along with Arson¡¯s siblings. Ash included. Once passed the young woman¡¯s more abrasive and upfront layers that made up her personality, the room seemed to settle more toward civil, than civil war.


    Troy could feel the girl¡¯s gaze flicker between her and the projection of Arson in front of them all.


    Troy had to admit that Arson was a tad overwhelming to witness use a scythe. She wondered if the skill he could display was with all the most prominent weapons known to cultivators, such as swords, hammers, and spears; only for him to laugh at her when she¡¯d asked, and say, ¡°No besides shields and bows, I normally make a fool out of myself when I practice with smaller weaponry.¡±


    That doesn¡¯t explain this though Arson. Troy was as captivated as everyone else was. Arson had their full attention now.


    At first she¡¯d felt he¡¯d been showing off. They were used to this from Arson since before he¡¯d left, but now, Troy saw this show of power for what it truly was.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t have anything to prove to us,¡± said Xani.


    ¡°Agreed, but I think if we continue to downplay our own growth since we started, it may hinder us,¡± stated Troy.


    ¡°How so, none of us have grown so much that I think we¡¯d come close to scratching¡ª¡° Khalif¡¯s question ended when he¡¯d nearly said Arson¡¯s name, but Troy picked up on what he wanted to know and did her best to answer.


    ¡°Look, I could get into the details, but Carter is scary, we all know he has mana, but when¡¯s the last time we saw him need it,¡± asked Troy. She wanted to pull more of her people toward the answer, rather than give information to the potential enemies around them.


    ¡°What, do you think he can¡¯t use mana anymore or something,¡± asked Rob. Troy shook her head and glanced at Arson¡¯s siblings before she clenched her fists.


    ¡°No, I believe Carter made himself that strong as a way to show he deserves to lead us, and be worthy of our growth and grace,¡± said Troy. Ash snorted and Troy forced down an eye-roll. It was the kind of behavior that Troy knew to be what Ash felt gave her the status to laugh at her comment. As a HonorBorn noble, who couldn¡¯t she laugh at?


    ¡°You laugh, but your brother is being taught by that monster each and everyday, and you couldn¡¯t even beat Cro, who could probably beat all of us here by herself¡­¡± Troy stared down Ash, and the stir of emotions that played across her face let Troy know her point was made. It was a lie, but the truth was far worse, and Troy would not be the one to let the dragon free of its cage.


    ¡°Our little brother is being trained by that guy, to do what exactly, please tell me anything but¡ª¡° started Aura, but Troy laughed and cut in.


    ¡°Use a scythe, obviously¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Arson knew he was in trouble after the third large portal opened. He¡¯d forced all of his friends away, and now had to survive alone.


    The feeling of solitude filled him with a vigor that he could use, it wasn¡¯t an actual source of energy that he could draw on, but more a fear that pushed him beyond his limits.


    You don¡¯t have to be alone ever again, Arson, just push beyond.


    ¡°Think,¡± said Arson while he shifted his stance. Widened legs to support what was to come.


    ¡°Analyze¡­¡± The words were echoed by thousands of voices around him in the stands. All could hear him, his words enhanced by the broadcast producers through spatial and sound runes.


    Arson prepared to spin. His arms spread wide in an instant before, his hands came together around the base of the scythe he used.


    ¡°Move!¡± Arson¡¯s feet came together in the same moment he spun 360 degrees. The momentum of his swing carried him onward. The slash made only more violent by the continual swarm of skeletons that entered his range of attack.


    The crowd turning his mantra into a literal chant while more and more skeletons were bisected.


    Come on, Come on! Arson sped up instead of slowing down. A resonance had begun, and without knowing it, Arson tapped into the force that connected all Scythe users.


    While he was charged from all sides, projections made of Uni-Vare were created. Physical manifestations of women and men who¡¯d once perfected the art of Scythes, dashed outward from the torrent of energy Arson filled his scythe with. A scythe that had nearly every crack on its body and blade restored by skill, mastery, and natural ability turned into energy.


    The Scythe in his hand completed itself, and continued to drink in the ambient mana from the sleighed skeletons. The more he spun the more manifestations of Uni-Vare were created, and the more dense with power the weapon itself became.


    It wasn¡¯t until this point that the figures themselves became so dense with power that not only Arson could see them being created, attack in exotic ways, and disappear; the crowd could as well.


    The alias he¡¯d recently chosen for himself, once more yelled by fans across the entire event area to the point that Arson lost himself in the adrenaline and the seeming endless variants of Scythe-work being performed around him.


    I can learn from this, I can learn from all of them whoever they are. He pushed his own thoughts to the back of his mind, and focused. Doing his best to memorize everything he saw happening around himself, while more and more joined in the chant.


    ¡°Carter Gestalt! Carter Gestalt! Carter Gestalt!¡±

 Chapter 60: Living Weapon Masters

    Arson had to ignore the slight vibrations that came from his watch. He walked down the hall and read the notifications that had come after he survived his Fearless title being triggered. Something that Anastasia hinted would probably continue to happen more and more.


    ¡°Living weapon - you have created an instrument. A living weapon that can grow and learn as you do, *Warning, yada yada yada, wait what did that say?¡± He reread it over and over to the point that he stopped walking toward the conference room.


    ¡°By the sparks of the maiden,¡± said Arson as he pulled the weapon from his spatial inventory. The weapon immediately stopped vibrating, and Arson noted the changes that had occurred since he put the weapon away. It had grown longer and the black deepened to the point that random colors flickered through the shaft and blade of the weapon in the light.


    ¡°How much of my inventory is gone, Anna?¡± asked Arson, though afraid to know the truth.


    ¡°Around 99% is untouched, but she got to your collections of weird mana stones and dungeon cores before I could stop her. Sorry, Arson. I did try, I swear,¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°She?¡±


    ¡°Yeees, she is currently nameless by the way, which is semi disrespectful to her kind,¡± stated Anastasia with a small nod. Arson looked at the scythe that he now felt connected too, and wondered at a name.


    ¡°Vibrate if you like the name, Ocean?¡± Nothing happened and Arson sighed.


    ¡°What kind of sophisticated woman wants to be named after a large body of water? Are you calling her fat?¡± asked Anastasia with a pout toward Arson.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m naming her after the most beautiful thing I¡¯ve ever seen besides the sky itself,¡± said Arson, who felt his weapon vibrate when he said the word, Sky.


    ¡°Not ocean, but Sky?¡± The weapon answered with a simple vibration that made Arson smile.


    ¡°Well then come on Sky, we are already late.¡±


    When he walked into the silent conference room Arson wondered if the sham was up, but waited before he spoke. Until things remained silent for so long, he wondered if they were under some sort of calming skill effect.


    ¡°Everyone okay?¡± Nothing was said, most just looked between each other, with the exception of Troy who just smiled and stared down Ash.


    ¡°Weapon Master Gestalt, are you ready to begin? If so I can go and gather the Raid Corp contract team?¡± Arson nodded at Sprinter and took a seat at the opposing end of the table from Autumn. He tried not to stare down Ash in the same way his girlfriend now did, but felt cared for somehow.


    ¡°So do we get to know why we are all here now,¡± asked Autumn. Arson nodded, but still said nothing, instead casually caught up with his friends while they waited.


    ¡°You think you could survive in a red zone?¡± asked Troy. The question was directed at him, but Troy still hadn¡¯t looked away from Ash when she¡¯d asked him.


    ¡°No, absolutely not, but that doesn¡¯t mean that I wouldn¡¯t try,¡± said Arson with a laugh. Troy nodded at first, but the words seemed to register on a delay and the frown she gave him made him speak up.


    ¡°Only kidding, love, just a joke. I swear I don¡¯t plan on trying for quite some time¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll end you myself before I lose you to the dump, Carter. Know that to be as true as the honor you just gained is rare,¡± said Troy. She then immediately turned to glare at Ash once more.


    ¡°Guys, let¡¯s let this portion of the meeting complete itself, so that we may speak more freely,¡± said Arson with a gesture toward the group of new Raid Corp execs that entered. He wanted to defuse any potential animosity that may spawn early on between his siblings and his friends,. For his plans to work he would need the illusion of peace to remain present at all times.


    ¡°Hello, Royal family heirs, and members of the Black hole conglomerate, we of Raid Corp humbly welcome you to our meeting table,¡± said the young man that led the trio that entered.


    ¡°My name is Jennifer, and this is representative Leon, and Venn,¡± said the girl beside the first young man to speak. She gestured toward each young man accordingly, and Venn even bowed when she spoke his name.


    ¡°It is an honor to meet you all, it is not very often that a new weapon master is born and enters our playground, especially with such talented friends. Your level of skill with your weapon is normally more suited to the introverted type,¡± said Venn. His voice was soft to the point that Arson wondered if he was reserved in nature, and assumed as much when Venn refused to make eye contact with everyone but Arson, and Ash oddly enough. His sister seemingly unable to look away from the new groups members.


    ¡°Shall we begin?¡± asked Jennifer. She wasted no time and took a seat beside her peers. Then she began to tap away on a tablet she pulled from thin air, or a hidden spatial inventory skill or unseen item.


    The others took seats, and Arson smiled toward Autumn who gave him a nervous glance.


    I haven¡¯t talked to Autumn much, but I don¡¯t remember her being socially awkward, thought Arson to himself. He watched his eldest sister sweat, and look as if she was about to stutter, even before the first question was asked.


    The flurry of demands and offers came from all three representatives at once. Which obviously left Autumn flustered, her more introverted traits the only thing that was being displayed through her slight nods when pressured to answer, or glances toward her younger siblings for help.


    The group targeted her every weakness, and Autumn remained without support. As the eldest, she was meant to lead, and prove that she could lead in her every action and decision.


    So none there could offer any guidance, nor did most feel authorized to do so.


    By the time Arson knew that he was going to be forced to step in on his sister¡¯s behalf, the situation was already a few words from being considered a full on catastrophe. The Raid Corp representatives were skilled in a way that most common cultivators were not.


    I don¡¯t know if I would have let her beat my sister up over something as small as contractual law, maybe if I were petty I guess.


    ¡°So if you acknowledge your required terms of the contract to fulfillment, we then allow for you¡ª¡° Arson chose his timing to do multiple things at once. The first was to speak up. The second was to summon Thinker.


    The handprint on Arson¡¯s chest flashed, and everyone there felt something occur. To Arson, it was a sensation equivalent to a drug when he used mana for the first time since his return. For the others, it was a moment of pressure that made all those breathing to stop.


    ¡°You¡¯d get spun,¡± said Arson, as Thinker started to emerge from his shadow. The hooded form of himself, crawled out under his direction, to appear as if the task was a torturous struggle.


    Thinker made a good show of pain ridden grunts and cries while he stepped off of Arson¡¯s back and over his chair. No one in the room moved, even after Thinker fell to the floor heaving for air to fill his lungs. Arson truly commended his acting skills, forced to keep a straight face, even as Thinker laughed in his mind.


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    ¡°My lord,¡± said Thinker from a knee at Arson¡¯s side. Only then did others begin to look at one another, and Arson loved that only Troy was able to keep shock from her facial features.


    ¡°I need you to look over this contract while I speak to her,¡± said Arson with a point toward Autumn. He then pulled a vellum from his watch¡¯s inventory, alongside a few swipes on its screen that caused a light to flash from his wrist that inscribed the previous conversation across the parchment¡¯s face.


    ¡°Look this over, I can¡¯t intercede on her behalf, but I can speak with her privately, I want you to be able to negotiate with her by the time I¡¯m done with her, am I understood?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± said Thinker. Arson came to his feet and strolled casually around the table toward his eldest sister. All eyes were on him, until Arson twirled a finger in the air. Xani missed the practiced signal, until Arson gave her a pointed look.


    ¡°Sorry bu¡ª¡° Xani stopped herself dead, and Arson couldn¡¯t help but notice her glance toward Thinker¡¯s still kneeling figure.


    ¡°Sorry, sir,¡± said Xani. Arson¡¯s guts twisted at the thought of Xani listening to him out of fear, rather than respect, but knew that the appearance of power needed to be absolute in that moment.


    Xani lifted her and Arson¡¯s newest experiment. The robotic glove on her hand made Auto¡¯s eyes bug out of his head, and Arson watched Xani force down a snort at his older brother¡¯s face when she made three hands rise into the air.


    After Arson had shared how he wore, Jack, Jill, and Jane, his Living hand Constructs, on his shoulders and back; Xani decided to do the same, not having a better system herself.


    The three hands flew above Arson and Autumn, before a small dome of sound could be seen like a glass shield, until it disappeared, and Arson spoke.


    ¡°What do you want out of this deal?¡±


    ¡­


    Autumn was confused. The question she¡¯d just been asked floored her. Made her rethink who was on her side, and even what side she wanted to be on.


    According to Ash, all of the BHC members were demon spawn, or trash born mongrels. Yet¡­


    ¡°What do I want?¡±


    Yes, what do you want,¡± said Carter Gestalt from his cross legged position on the floor in front of her.


    ¡°You seem to want to do things that help nature, and your fellow cultivator, so¡­¡± Autumn didn¡¯t know what the young man expected of her, but maybe that was the point. He didn¡¯t expect anything of her, he just wanted to know about what she¡­ wanted?


    No one had ever asked her that. She tried to think back on all the season cycles she could remember, and knew it to be true.


    ¡°Why do you want to know?¡± She may have been internally flustered, but still had enough training to remain dignified. Her parents training granted her at least that, if not the love she desired alongside her siblings.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious, I want to know because I believe that this is an opportunity for you to gain exactly that, so if you don¡¯t know what you want, then how can you even recognize a situation were you could gain it,¡± offered Carter. She didn¡¯t know if she was being pitied, but dismissed the thought because of the look in the man¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You are being serious, aren¡¯t you,¡± asked Autumn, her last attempt to see through any guise ended as she felt ridiculous feeling that the young man in front of her was trying to mislead her. The young man in front of her was determined, determined to achieve something in this moment, or even every moment that he could.


    ¡°Princess Autumn, I don¡¯t have time, to waste your time¡­¡± Autumn nodded at those words and couldn¡¯t help but look around at the room of people around her that spoke but couldn¡¯t be heard. The privacy made her feel safe in a way that allowed for her to think. So she did, a brainstorming session between her and Carter Gestalt commenced, and her life changed.


    ¡­


    ¡°So what do you think they are talking about in there,¡± whispered Troy to Xani who had a rather serious face on.


    The others chatted between one another loudly enough that no individual conversations could be heard without obvious mana usage, or skills. One skill had actually been activated and could be felt by most in the room, the skill¡¯s minor use to overhear ignored. While the other skill to overhear was too powerful for any in the room to distinguish who used it, it could be felt triggered by those in the room with the ability to use mana to enhance their hearing, Troy¡­ couldn¡¯t include herself in that group.


    ¡°Shhh, I¡¯m trying to listen to what they are talking about,¡± responded Xani with a raised hand to block Troy¡¯s intrusion into her personal space when she leaned in to whisper.


    ¡°Are you sparking kidding me, tap me into the coms, you greedy street¡ª¡°


    ¡°Finish that sentence and you¡¯ll be the only one I don¡¯t bloody let hear the conversation between those two monsters in there.¡± Troy¡¯s mouth closed and she nodded furiously at Xani¡¯s serious gaze.


    ¡°Please, with all the sparks and love in your heart, please let me hear,¡± whispered Troy with a big smile. Xani tapped a few buttons on her flatscreen, and before Troy knew it, she could hear Arson and his sister.


    ¡°So let me get this straight, those games would allow me to feed how many people,¡± asked Autumn.


    ¡°Ooh, this is probably going to be good,¡± said Troy playfully. Xani shushed her again, and Troy recognized that they had drawn some attention, especially from Auto, who probably knew what Xani was capable of.


    ¡°I¡¯d also be able to make how many points per round if we did it that way?¡± Autumn voice came through the coms and Troy and Xani couldn¡¯t help but look at one another in suspense, waiting for Arson¡¯s answer.


    ¡°Ooh,¡± said both young women when they heard his answer.


    ¡°Is he serious?¡± said Troy in excited shock. Her squeal-whisper was enough to bring the full attention of the Raid Corp representatives, as well as Rob, and Khalif.


    ¡°Girl, I don¡¯t even know, that seems like a lot,¡± said Xani at a completely normal volume.


    ¡°Sparks, if I made that much in a single game of Rampage Square I¡¯d be able to stay on the top floor for like what a few dozen fortnights, maybe longer right?¡± Troy¡¯s question to Xani prompted Rob to snap his finger at the two, who looked in his and Khalif¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Read your chat,¡± said Rob while seemingly pointing downward at nothing. Both girls frowned, and opened their Overlays. Both looked down to see a chain of messages from their party members.


    Arson: Xani, are you listening in on the coms? Shut it down if you are, it¡¯s hard enough keeping a straight face not being recognized, let alone knowing you are laughing in the background. Give my sister a break, doesn¡¯t seem like she does this often.


    *Khalif and Rob have invited you and Xani to a private chat!*


    Rob: Don¡¯t shut it down plug us in, woman, and I¡¯ll give you free meals for a week, anything you want!


    Khalif: Please! Please! Please!


    Troy looked at the mix of emotions that flickered across her face as she read the messages and bursted into laughter. She knew how hard it would be for her to pass up Rob personally cooking for her, as she didn¡¯t know if she could turn that deal down for anything.


    ¡°What you gonna do? I¡¯d take that in a heartbeat,¡± said Troy before she once again bursted into laughter.


    ¡°Shut up, Troy, and don¡¯t act like I¡¯m not potentially risking my life,¡± said Xani with a frown and a pat on her belly, before she too bursted into laughter.


    ¡°You know that I can¡¯t let you go unpaid for all of this advice, I know that you help my sister Aura grow, but I fear how my actions could lead to later downfall if I don¡¯t compensate you properly before we go any further. My honor demands at least¡ª¡° Both Troy and Xani froze when Arson cut in through Autumn words on the coms, his voice in their ears like lightning bolts that demanded their attention.


    ¡°If you mean that I will work out a permanent 13% point funnel into my own accounts and a 27% point funnel into your own for as long as they use our Feed the World premise as a primary event, additionally I will work out that this is a production from the Royal Crown Scions and the BHC, but that is only if you are choosing to share the Royalties with your siblings, not to mention this could just be an Honor mark on your own portfolio,¡± stated Arson. Troy and Xani froze in expectation after they both inhaled deeply. Suspense of what could unfold next spinning their minds in many potential directions as they waited.


    Rob: Come on a Fortnight of personal cooking, no spatial inventory food at all, not even desserts!


    Khalif: Please! Please! Please!


    ¡­


    ¡°Just sparking ask your little friends to let us hear what¡¯s going on in there, Aura, it¡¯s not a big deal obviously,¡± asked Ash with a gesture toward, Rob, Khalif, Xani, and Troy of BlackHole. The group was huddled and seemed to ooh and aah at moments too coincidentally aligned with the soundless conversation being had between Carter Gestalt and their sister, Autumn.


    ¡°Already tried, one of those outburst of laughter was aimed at me, I¡¯m pretty sure,¡± responded Aura with a sigh.


    ¡°Wish I could have been on mission today, I bet that conversation is pretty groundbreaking for our sister¡¯s shyness,¡± said Aura. Auto nodded beside Aura, having had been offered something truly amazing due to Carter Gestalt only moments before he entered the conference room himself, and Auto wondered if he would have had the same courage to speak so casually to him days ago if he would have known his strength with a scythe.


    ¡°I don¡¯t blame you, sis, I¡¯m thinking about taking both the deals being offered to me, I bet it¡¯s fun working with them,¡± said Auto with a smile. Aura smiled and nodded back at her older brother.


    ¡°It is, and¡ª¡° The room went silent once more when Carter rose to his feet and spun his finger through the air once more. Xani triggered the bubble around Carter Gestalt and their sister to pop, and somehow change the pressure in the room.


    At first Ash and the others thought it was the new weapon master of The CityNation of Maelstrom, an achievement so large it would touch the corners of the realm as a whole. Only it wasn¡¯t until Carter sat down and Autumn stood, that they all realized the pressure came not from Carter, but from Autumn.


    ¡­


    Arson returned to his seat and whispered to Thinker, ¡°Rise, and consult when necessary, no more, no less.¡±


    Thinker rose, vellum in hand and made his way toward Arson¡¯s sister.


    He watched the shift in the room. The power dynamic turned on its head.


    Autumn wasn¡¯t a new person, but a determined version of herself. It was the ferocity in her own eyes, that lit his soul ablaze.


    From the knowledge of runes, to finding my own prominence. I will become the embodiment of potential, by showing others how to find their purpose, as I live out my own.


    An alignment occurred in Arson¡¯s mind, body, and soul. The gateway above his cerebral realm opened in that moment and Arson could feel the completion of his crown begin within his soul realm. The powerful manifestation of his inner will, positioned itself in-between the gateway that was his first opened node and began to draw in power rapidly.


    Arson felt his head spin and the room flipped to the point that he didn¡¯t know his left from his right, nor up from down.


    Title granted: Limitless potential: Only those with the will to understand how dangerous the thirst for knowledge, and the potential for death in its pursuit can lead to both Purpose and Prominence. Will you show the realm how to be limitless?


    *Stat restrictions removed from Overlay*


    Title fusion triggered. Titles; Godling, The Fearless, and Limitless Potential, fuse to create: The Fearless Godling of Potential. Auto-assign triggered.


    Core completion triggered: Body core, Limitless Crown of Sovereigns chosen¡­ Time until completion 3 days.


    Arson tried to stay upright. He even tried to summon another gestalt form to support him in the moment of weakness, but no power came, everything he produced or absorbed being swallowed whole by his crown while it finished itself internally.


    Before he passed out, he only had one thought, and he said her name when he knew that whatever was occurring, may kill him in the process. He managed to speak when their eyes met.


    ¡°Troy¡­!¡±

 Chapter 73: Gravitational Mana

    Arson focused on the breathing exercise his Overlay walked him through. It was similar to the Endless breathing technique, and even claimed to be the true version of the technique within his Overlay.


    Arson struggled with the cycled breathing heavily at first. He found the training lessons prompts and corrective directions jarring. While in his soul realm in a meditation, every wrong action was emphasized by a siren blaring back at him, or the instant ejection of his mind and will from his soul realm completely.


    Once forced from his mind, images of what he should have done were presented, and he was given an option to attempt what he¡¯d been shown before he¡¯d been shown.


    At first he¡¯d felt he¡¯d just been handed the perfect training tool by the system. Then after he¡¯d been thrusted from his soul a dozen times merely trying to start the technique correctly, he grew frustrated.


    You would have to perform the technique perfectly to be able to¡­


    Arson cursed mentally at the realization that the techniques offered to be trained required perfection. Not that the same instructions given would be perfect for everyone, but they were at least structured for him. Thus what would be required would be perfect for him.


    ¡°I guess all I can do is practice,¡± said Arson. Time passed on the rooftop, and he found himself lost within the engineering section under the training tab of his Overlay.


    ¡°A break never hurt, right?¡± said Arson flipping through different styles of handles that could be constructed for his scythe. Three of the options stood out the most to him, and he considered them all intimately before he chose the simplest of the three.


    Arson looked at the circular handle that would be centered within the shaft of his weapon if he was able to construct the rotating hand guard. The perfect circles one slightly larger than the other would allow Arson to spin the large weapon like a fan.


    The outer circle was connected to the shaft of the weapon. Once completed it would look as if two halos had been bisected by the shaft of his scythe, fused perfectly between their centers.


    The hand grip in the center when squeezed would retract the smaller circle it was connected to inward toward the wielders hand. This would cause a line of friction based runes that lined the outside of the smaller ring to separate from a set of gravitational runes that caused rotational thrust, that were placed on the larger of the two rings.


    The inner ring even when compressed by the wielder¡¯s grip still eclipsed the external ring. A hollowed concave pipe-like trim would line the outside of the external ring and create a latch and seal, the frame designed to ensure the two seemingly separate pieces remained connected.


    The runes on the outer ring would be powered by Arson¡¯s own mana, and only limited by how much power he could output and the durability of the weapon. He wanted to make this improvement immediately, but lacked an integral agent that would be necessary for the build.


    ¡°What the sparks is TitanSteel tree sap?¡±


    Arson ended up spending much of that day trying to figure out what he could build with the ingredients he had on hand, and eventually found an area within his training tab that showed him exactly that.


    He found the list to be odd. Mostly filled with potions, random small buildings, tools, and a few skills he didn¡¯t understand the uses of yet.


    ¡°Potion of crystalline recollection, purge the mind of what dilutes the senses.¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t know precisely what all the potions did, their descriptions very vague, but the potion that had caught his interest had done so because of his current situation..


    If this makes it so that I can roam the school without being affected by the formations built in to the campus or the headmaster¡¯s abilities, that would be worthwhile,¡± said Arson in contemplation. Without a second thought, he started to pull the required tools from his watch''s inventory to construct the potion.


    Items collected throughout time and space surrounded him with the wave of a hand, and Arson smiled at the thought of crafting anything after what felt like a lifetime.


    He¡¯d been so lost in the trials, that he hadn¡¯t tinkered with a single item since he¡¯d left the orphanage or longer even. The only thing he¡¯d made since then were his living hands, Jack, Jill, and Jane.


    Jack was still in a hibernation of sorts, the sensation of a required sleep still pulsed through his connection with the construct. While Jill and Jane flew about him and provided extra hands.


    Jill, held a brewing pot while flames poured from the constructs fingertips and palms. The large medicine ball sized pot was pushed to rotate slowly by the white tipped blue flames to ensure the contents were evenly heated through the entire brewing process.


    Arson made sure to stir slowly like the visual guide that his training tab offered; Jane was able to drop ingredients to either side of his hand while he worked. The preparation of ingredients didn¡¯t come easy to Arson so the first few potions were failures.


    Hmm, I wonder¡­


    Arson took time to prepare every step before he started brewing for his next attempt, and found the change in fluidity while he brewed had improved tremendously. After a while longer Arson read over the notification that signified that he¡¯d brewed the potion to completion and smiled at the effort.


    ¡°Potion of crystalline Recollection, 75% refined, quality rank: D+. Purge of foreign, parasitic, and ethereal Uni-Vare elements, 33-37% toxin removal accuracy. Potential for mana poison assimilation of new elements, 0%.


    ¡°Well for a first success, I won¡¯t be too angry, but I¡¯m not drinking something with a failing grade,¡± said Arson with a laugh. The next few potions he completed were much of the same quality, with one exception, being rated a B-. It was this potion that he chose to sip from to see the effects on his body.


    Here goes nothing¡­ The liquid from the small glass vials he''d used to bottle his attempts touched his lips, and even as the refreshing taste of the juice-like substance washed across his tongue like water he was unable to focus on the delicious and refreshing potion while the world around him changed visually.


    When he¡¯d arrived early that morning, everything he¡¯d seen had been pristine. The very image of perfection and luxury. Now though, a new reality could be seen beneath a view veiled by illusionary formations, and the nearly tyrannical power of the Headmaster of Adroit Academy.


    Waterfalls were filled with trash, grime and debris. Sections of the wildlife and vegetation that was woven into every other aspect of the campus was either overgrown, on fire, or had visible signs of rot that infested the trees up from the roots all the way to the tips of the tree limbs.


    The greatest of Arson¡¯s worries came from the sections of flying buildings that had once looked like an advancement unrivaled in the industry of construction and architecture, while now the truth was seen. Most of the foundations that supported the large buildings housed mile long cracks. This was on top of the outright dilapidated structures that seemed to either have already fallen over, or were about to cave in on themselves.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    This included the building Arson now sat atop, and if what he¡¯d already seen hadn¡¯t scared him enough, he started to take in the faces of those around.


    Cultivators could be seen in every direction, either with a dead eyed gaze that reminded Arson of cultivators affected by demonic plagues, or with a drained visage that told Arson they weren¡¯t far from appearing in the same state as their worse-off peers and companions.


    The only other kind of student seen, were absolutely healthy. They were filled with life and vigor, an oddity that spoke directly to the wrongness of the situation, as they even seemed unable to see those around them with less energy than themselves. Almost as if the less powerful were unable to be seen by those who thrived in the illusionary environment.


    Arson was on his feet, and amidst a slow spin when he realized that the school had recently been under attack. A field meant for war-games held a destroyed vessel that Arson was familiar with from a completely different realm, half destroyed by a crash landing. Another forest was ablaze and seemed to be in the middle of being consumed by an odd storm that dropped acidic raindrops the size of Arson¡¯s head.


    He had no idea how any of what he saw within the forest was possible until he noted a puddle exploded with flames after being struck by a random lightning bolt.


    This is the once proud Adroit Academy¡­?


    Arson knew now why the headmaster was so adamant about her students memories being tampered with. As one of the SunSpire realms most prominent institutions, this was no longer a place worth a trillion credits per class taken, but instead seemed to be a run down mountain that Olympians would never dare to send their children to, and may have been why his own mother seemed reticent to intrust his own development to its inhabitants.


    ¡°Anastasia, you can see how this place really looks, can¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yup!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to have to do something about this or I don¡¯t think I will be able to attend, if this is what the top school is hiding, I can only imagine what my other options have hidden beneath the cloth¡­¡± Arson sighed and though his words had been rhetorical, Anastasia still responded, only making Arson¡¯s underserved feelings of responsibility for the state of his mother¡¯s alma mater settle fully upon his shoulders.


    ¡°Yup!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Hey, you seen that weird guy building the small shop on that random rooftop in the third halo,¡± asked one student to another as they rode the hover rail to class.


    ¡°No, but I heard a rumor about it, the guy up there seems to be selling some top notch potions to those who can manage to make it onto the roof over there though. Why? You''re not interested in going over there, are you?¡±


    ¡°Not really, but a girl I know said that she ended up on the roof while she practiced the schools climbing challenge, and left feeling more revitalized than she had felt in months.¡±


    ¡°What made her say something like that? I haven¡¯t been able to sleep since I got here,¡± joked the student, but both knew just how true the statement really had been. Both aware of the bags that grew underneath both their eyes.


    ¡°Something about tai chi, a massage with a life coach, and a potion, not sure what to believe here.¡±


    ¡°Sparks, that does sound nice. Want to check it out after class?¡±


    ¡°Sure, not like I have anything else planned.¡±


    A few days passed and the two students hadn¡¯t actually visited. Neither one had any real interest in the rumors at first, but now¡­


    ¡°Hey, I think today is the day we should go,¡± said one student randomly.


    ¡°Really, I was just thinking the same thing,¡± said the other, but before they could confirm their plans, the exact rooftop in question came into view in the distance; both students shocked by the mass of people on the rooftop even before the sun had truly risen in the sky.


    Holy sparks¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Troy walked through the portal to Adroit Academy, alongside the rest of the builders of godhood. All of them were blown away by what they saw there.


    They all hadn¡¯t been accepted as students, but were the equivalent to being enrolled as long as Arson attended classes there.


    ¡°So where are we supposed to meet the boss, this place is sparking huge,¡± asked Rob while he eyed the entrance to a large restaurant nearby. Troy shrugged, overtaken by the sudden want to run toward the school at an unreasonable speed and start to climb.


    ¡°Where is he going?¡± asked Xani with a point toward Khalif, who had taken off in a dead sprint toward a small set of buildings at the edge of the campus grounds.


    ¡°Wait, where are you going?¡± asked Jasmine as Troy also took off seemingly after Khalif, until she overtook him entirely and continued on.


    ¡°Should I put cameras on them,¡± asked Lane. To which Jasmine gave her a quick nod.


    ¡°yeah, we don¡¯t know if they are about to get into anything that could be worthy content¡­¡±


    ¡°This place is so big. Is Arson still not answering his holo-calls?¡± asked Xani.


    ¡°No, and I doubt just asking for a tall guy with cool looking eyes is going to get us what we want,¡± stated Jasmine, but to all of their surprises, a nearby student turned around from the group he conversed with and waved at them. They all looked at one another, and Xani even pointed at herself confused by the sudden and unprovoked interaction.


    ¡°Yeah you guys, you guys wouldn¡¯t happen to be looking for shop keep of the third halo would you?¡±


    ¡­


    Arson was growing more and more accustomed to the thought of having to restore Adroit Academy to its former glory. He¡¯d even told his friends to forgo coming to join him until he had a true sense of whether or not he¡¯d actually be attending the school.


    Since then Arson began to work toward things that he believed would be vital for him to complete the recovery task he¡¯d assigned to himself. No he wouldn¡¯t be able to restore the campus overnight, nor maybe even this season cycle, but his growing list of responsibilities left him more determined than ever.


    Shouldn¡¯t be harder than my life long goal of cleaning up the dump.


    Though Arson knew he would be able to complete the tasks, the campus was incomparable to the dump in scale or scope by many magnitudes.


    He¡¯d started by reinforcing the roof he worked from with a mixture of sand and a molten mana compound. He¡¯d seen many new Keepers lose their title and right to land ownership after constructing a new building atop an old foundation, only to watch their life¡¯s work cave in on itself when maximum capacity was exceeded for what was said to be... functional.


    Once completed the new solid floor that sat atop the once shaky roof, weighed down the structure beneath itself enough to stop the subtle sway Arson recognized after a day of being there.


    The new floor also attracted many onlookers, who both stopped by and began to make regular conversation with Arson. Having had forgotten to give back the potions he confiscated from Rob, Arson also sold potions to those who visited him on the roof.


    The majority of his free time was spent learning something called Tai Chi, which his training tab had a complete compendium on for offensive, defensive, and body refinement portions of the mana infused martial forms and techniques. This included a set of massages that could release toxins from the muscles, blood, and even joints, tendons and bones.


    After being seen practicing the forms, cultivators had both asked to join him, for classes on the techniques that made black sludge pour from the bodies of those who led less toxin free lifestyles, as well as asked for paid massages that did the same.


    After the first day of this, many had returned with complaints that though they felt better, removing the sludge seemed impossible, and many worried that they would end up ingesting the foul material once more slowly through their pores if something wasn¡¯t done.


    This hurdle plagued Arson for much of an afternoon, until he found a potion that could be used to bathed in, and that would eviscerate the sludge he now knew was unrefined mana, and materials known to be dead, that only aided a certain type of dark mana cultivator known as a Necromancer. Why the sludge was useful in their bodies and no-one else? He remained unsure, as his guesses all seemed unrealistic.


    Luckily for Arson, the main ingredient of the epsom bomb potion required a salt that was commonly found in the seaside caves near to Adroit Academy, and after a few conversations with his new patrons, Arson gained access to a supply.


    He now had both a way to help the students of the school feel refreshed and saw less and less haggard students within the third halo, but wondered how the other halos were and if his actions would effect the status of the surrounding portions of the school, as well as a new income.


    Then the number of students that visited grew, and he gained new problems. One being privacy for those who needed baths after the work Arson did with them or to them. While another problem was manpower.


    Arson could only massage an individual at a time, and the classes by the end of the second day had become so frequent, that Arson had to put a hard cap on how much time he could offer to those interested in Tai Chi.


    While the students slept that night. Arson listened to music while he constructed a small pagoda. The spiritual building was said to offer certain perks to those who used the building, such as enriched meridians, or mana veins, in addition to restorative mana and life force effects that would be noticeable throughout the body after a few visits.


    By the next morning, the building had been completed. With the help of hard light mana, Jill, Jane and Arson¡¯s lack of the need for sleep, the small building of glass and refined sandstone was completed in a night. Only for Arson to be surprised by the words used in his direction when he opened the buildings front door for the first time to his first ever customers.


    ¡°Good morning, are you here for a class, potion or massage,¡± asked Arson as the sound of the doors runic wind chime went off and he turned around to see a curious young man an obvious question on his face.


    ¡°Ahh¡­ no... I was wondering if you were hiring?¡±

 Chapter 74: Reasons To Press On

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t I know you from somewhere?¡± Arson nodded at the young man he knew to be named Oscar. His own mind playing through the young man¡¯s kidnapping in a night club. He watched as recognition slowly crept across his face, and he pointed at Arson.


    ¡°You''re the dude that put me inside the box that ain¡¯t really a box, and it had that one smoking hot chick with the swords!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the one, but I¡¯d be careful saying that about Micro out loud while she¡¯s around, saw her cut... and you know what? Never mind. Can I help you with anything, massage, tai chi study, maybe a fine potion?¡± Arson gave his best salesman performance, showing off Rob¡¯s potions with an extra flare, Oscar momentarily showing interest after seeing the quality, only to look back at Arson and refocus directly on him once more.


    ¡°Woah, what the sparks was that? You a Mesmer or something?¡± Arson laughed slightly at Oscar''s words, wanting to work on his more social skills was beginning to pay off, the spiral of his eyes something he¡¯d never attempted to use until he started to sell potions on top the roof.


    ¡°Nothing sir, just wanted you to see our valuable merchandise,¡± said Arson, lifting another potion in the air with the assistance of Jill, his living hand construct.


    He was glad that he¡¯d completed Jill and Jane during the trials within Endless with everyday that passed without him being able to connect with his first living hand properly.


    ¡°That is a good looking, what in the embers are you doing to me, you sparking kidnapping piece of¡ª¡° The sound of Arson¡¯s watch cut Oscar off, and Anastasia spoke up.


    ¡°The old lady is calling again, I don¡¯t think she would call this much if it wasn¡¯t important,¡± Arson sighed and raised a hand toward Oscar and answered his watch.


    ¡°Sorry about this, one second. Hey Momma Almarine, is everything okay?¡± Oscar frowned when Arson turned around to greet the hologram of an adjacent realm icon. Oscar turned back to look at the small group that he entered with and they all looked as baffled or confused as Oscar felt.


    ¡°Who is this guy¡­?


    ¡°Yes dear, I just wanted to check in on you, as well as let you know that Mr Kim has scheduled¡ª¡°


    ¡°A raid on the dump, yeah my mom told me, he isn¡¯t still giving the orphans trouble, is he?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and no, some of the boycotts he¡¯s put on letting the orphans buy from local markets was a problem, but your shipments of clothing and trade supplies has helped in our efforts tremendously,¡± said Almarine obviously reserved in her words, facial expressions kept tight in a way that Arson was familiar with.


    ¡°You''re procrastinating, what is it?¡± said Arson. A dagger thrown verbally that Arson knew would give the woman a slight mental push toward sharing.


    ¡°How dare you¡­?¡±


    ¡°You called me, Momma Almarine, and I¡¯d answer your call in the middle of a supernova, but let''s not act like I¡¯m not a busy person, again, one that loves you, still busy though,¡± said Arson with a laugh. The woman frowned at him, and nodded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hang up on me, or I¡¯ll make Anastasia hack your systems,¡± blurted Arson with an odd feeling.


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of your little computer box,¡± said Almarine.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you either built this watch yourself, or know who did personally, and I¡¯m also sure you care about me, but not enough to have my face follow you across every available screen in the orphanage, after I have Anastasia remove the ability for you to hang up or shut off your flatscreen,¡± threatened Arson with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°If you were in the realm I¡¯d be showing you why I raised you properly and how not speaking to your elders properly can and will end badly,¡± said Almarine. Arson glanced at the growing line and Oscar who still stared him down.


    ¡°I want a sparking rematch. Right here! Right now!¡± yelled Oscar. Arson did his best not to roll his eyes, but failed when he heard Almarine snicker. He looked back at his wrist and smiled.


    ¡°Call me back when you actually want to talk Momma Almarine,¡± said Arson, then he ended the call. To nearly everyone''s shock including his own.


    I may pay for that, but I have a lot to do.


    ¡°Okay so what exactly do you want, sir?¡± Arson asked as he turned to face Oscar, almost as if they¡¯d never spoken.


    ¡°What do you mean, what do I want? I want a rematch, no weapons, just me and you,¡± growled Oscar. In Arson¡¯s best salesperson response, Arson responded quickly.


    ¡°We don¡¯t serve rematch here sir, but I can offer you a scheduled private tai chi lesson if you are interested?¡± Oscar looked at the group he came with and even a few of the other random patrons who¡¯d entered baffled by what he was being presented with.


    ¡°Uhh¡ª¡°


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, the line is growing and your time is up, but you can start again from the end of the line if you¡¯d like, or come back later. NEXT!¡± Jill and Jane softly guided the young man aside, and directed him toward the end of the line. Oscar waited through the entire line again, this time determined to get what he wanted.


    ¡°I want a re- No, I would like to schedule a tai chi private lesson,¡± said Oscar, the course of his words changing with each facial expression Arson made in his direction.


    ¡°I want a slot for right now... I mean... for as early as possible,¡± said Oscar next his continual shift in tone and speech being influenced by the elevation of Arson¡¯s brow.


    Arson smiled as the young man stepped to the side, and joined a small group of individuals there for a class or private lesson.


    Oscar had originally been on the hunt for a part-time job, changing his mind once he¡¯d recognized the very person that helped his parents come to the determination that he needed to be cut off from the family¡¯s wealth.


    It wasn¡¯t Oscar¡¯s fault that their fight had resulted in the destruction of the nightclub. Arson had even admitted to the young man that he¡¯d knock the entire establishment over before he let Oscar escape, and that he had many more targets to get to that day.


    At first, Oscar felt he had fought admirably, then the fight was flipped on its head, the very words Arson spoke to Oscar still filled his mind frequently even up to that very day.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this but I am on the clock here, so I¡¯m going to have to try this new stance on you, and see if it works¡­¡± Oscar was taken back to the fight mentally every time the words rang throughout his mind.


    The simple weapon Arson had held was rather long, and seemed built to be held in the young man¡¯s hand. The new stance he developed far less destructive than his Flicker stance, but the perpetual motion of the stance put a heavy demand on his body.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Unknowingly to Oscar, the stance was copied from his own Living Hand constructs use of scythes during the Endless trials. Even now after he¡¯d begun to devour the legacy energies of the Scythe, he still felt less skilled with the weapon type than his three Living Hands.


    Oscar¡¯s flexibility, versatility, and incredible ability to perform quick burst of movements, made him a perfect target for Arson¡¯s practice, which Arson didn¡¯t pass up.


    Oscar watched as the weapon had swept toward his chest, aimed at his heart with deadly intent. He lifted his left leg to block in a high kick that should have knocked the blade off course.


    Instead, the shaft of Arson¡¯s weapon rotated smoothly in his grip. The blade redirected , sliding smoothly down Oscar¡¯s lifted leg. And hooked silently around the opposing leg he used for stability.


    The first time Oscar was slung through the air, he¡¯d been shocked. The sound of screaming patrons, booming music, and the eventual sound of his body flying through a stone wall merged into a single blaring ring. Oscar had felt he¡¯d been struck by a powerful air mana cultivator, a sound like a piercing alarm disrupted what little balance he had when he¡¯d tried to come to his feet.


    Oscar remembered his struggle to get upright. The feeling of the strength leaving his arms as he tried to pull himself up using the countertop¡¯s edge above himself.


    When Arson had stepped through the hole into the bar¡¯s kitchen, the young man still having an entire conversation with someone on his watch, when he¡¯d looked over at Oscar in that moment, unbothered by the fire and rubble as it rained down around him.


    ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to just give up?¡± Oscar should have said yes. His cultivator¡¯s pride told him to fight, but the spin of the stars in the young man¡¯s eyes spoke of an endless void of stars, hungry for Oscar¡¯s life and will itself. He shook his head and a voice came from the watch alongside a heavy sigh.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why you even bother little buddy, not even the maiden herself could come down from the heavens and convince these idiots that they could lose¡­¡± After those words were spoken everything else was a blur for the young man,Oscar remembered being flung out a window. Being thrown through a few more walls, and maybe even being caught in the air by Arson¡¯s scythe before being slammed bodily through the floor below the nightclub¡­ maybe?


    The order of events were jumbled in his mind, but he didn¡¯t care. He¡¯d later figured out he¡¯d lost to a living weapon master named, Carter Gestalt, and the far too expensive property damage taxes would be paid by Oscar and not the man who¡¯d beaten him handily.


    After a while, Oscar watched the young man work, and couldn¡¯t help but reconsider asking the man he knew to be known as Carter for the job he still needed.


    The environment in the shop he ran was pleasant. Soft music played, and Oscar couldn¡¯t help but join in the stances being shown to the classes he hosted, especially after seeing all the sludge that was pouring from his fellow students'' bodies. While none came out of the young man who led the class, nothing but crystal clear liquid that looked more like water than sweat being excreted from his pores.


    ¡°Finally, it''s my turn,¡± said Oscar.¡± On his feet and ready to go, he was approached by Carter.


    ¡°So how would you like to spend your time, I can either instruct you in forms that may remove the most toxins from your body, we can try some more practical exercises, there are some pressure point practices that I¡¯m not completely educated in involved with that, but I am willing to try if you are?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the second option seems better. Am I too defend myself during this, or am I to attack you? How does this work?¡± asked Oscar hoping for more of an explanation, but instead Arson bowed at the waist and smiled.


    ¡°Let¡¯s begin." Oscar lifted his arms to defend himself, and instantly felt his right forearm go numb.


    ¡°For those of you who are following this demonstration, I will slow down some of the movements, for your practicing purposes,¡± said Arson. Toxins had already started to leak from Oscar¡¯s right arm; Arson already having had struck three points in the young man¡¯s wrist as he raised it a moment prior.


    ¡°Did you see him move at all?¡± asked one of the young men bathing in the distance. Their audience engaging in discussions all around them as Arson moved around Oscar.


    The young man tried to defend himself from being struck by Arson, determined to let no more attacks land on his skin, only for Arson to move so quickly that they were closer than an arm span away from one another in a blink.


    What Oscar thought at first to be punches with how quickly Arson struck out each time, ended up being feather light touches that caused pressure within any muscle group Arson aimed for.


    Primarily he focused on Oscar¡¯s torso, as this was where most if not all Cultivators kept the majority of their accumulated impurities. While others like Arson was forced to purge toxins mostly from their skull, eyes, or brain.


    ¡°What is all this?¡± Oscar felt like his body grew slighter in build, a defense trained in him by soldiers from battles experienced before either young man had even been thought of by their parents, was picked apart piece by piece.


    He¡¯d thought fighting the weapon master was the best bet for him now while he wasn¡¯t holding his weapon. While Arson had long made a game of having his tai chi students try to use the forms he¡¯d taught them to defend from him striking points on their body that would release the black ooze from within.


    Arson pushed aside the thoughts on how much better his students faired. He wanted to remain separate from the academy¡¯s inner workings as much as possible, under the notion that he may not become a student.


    I could ignore the signs of poor combat capability all around me, if things weren¡¯t so similar.


    A field that stuck out in Arson¡¯s memory was that of the area with the destroyed foreign vessel obviously from another realm. A realm unfamiliar to Arson, as he¡¯d never seen the style of ship before, but he had seen the same types of crashes occur during invasions.


    Even while he moved slowly around Oscar, Arson thought about what he may face if he truly committed and sighed.


    He closed his eyes and continued his work. Those around him going silent as what Arson did seemed impossible for anyone their own age to be capable of.


    Then his watch rang with a holo-call and Arson paused, opening his eyes with a smile.


    ¡°Hello Xani, what¡¯s going on? Is everybody here?¡± An image of his white haired friend was displayed and she immediately began to scream.


    ¡°Embers, kid! I mean... no spark that! I didn¡¯t force you to be a time traveler of all things, you just jumped back in and expect everything to be fine but now, you¡¯ve done too much for your little boy britches!¡±


    ¡°Woah, Xani, calm down. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Did you just tell me to calm down, little boy? I will blow your whole ember licking operation up. First you disappear and I¡¯m like "nope, we good," then you came back, and I¡¯m like "yup, knew we was good," now you bring us to lunatic mountain? I bet I use my emergency coin from Jade and leave before you make me do anything in this pile of bloody embers!¡± Arson turned back to Oscar, Xani continuing to yell through his watch. The young man looked dazed and as if he¡¯d just woken up from a particularly deep nap.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it looks like I need to go handle some things, but I¡¯m going to leave some attendants here for you all, and services should continue just fine.¡± Arson closed his eyes, whispered a single word and two forms stepped free from his shadow with smooth silent steps.


    Two forms was his current maximum while sealed for now. Temper and Thinker the ones he determined worthy of the task.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted a duel, my guy? I¡¯ll duel you, there¡¯s this kick I¡¯m working on where I... you know what? Don¡¯t worry about it, I¡¯ll show you. Glory is going to freak when I tell him I finally did it,¡± said Temper. He approached Oscar who didn¡¯t understand what was happening, just that he¡¯d been dragged off and thrown into a tub full of a strange sudsing water that ate the dark material off his skin.


    Thinker positioned himself behind a counter Arson made to sell potions, bath products, and exercise clothing Jasmine had forced into his inventory in case he met someone famous who like their brand.


    ¡°Are you even paying any attention, you brat!¡±


    A light flickered in the side of Arson¡¯s eyes so quickly Arson wondered if maybe a teacher had used some sort of movement technique nearby. Arson ignored the flash, but felt he shouldn¡¯t have, the odd light a struggle to push toward the back of his mind no matter how hard he tried.


    He opened the doors to his shop, and exited his focus once more on the agitated Xani.


    ¡°Yes, mom, I¡¯m paying attention," joked Arson, his attempt to defuse her anger again failing.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t know your mother and enjoy her cooking, I¡¯d call her out her name right now. Khalif is in a death match with an insane amount of¡ª" Xani¡¯s hologram ducked and a fan of knives arced through the air above her head.


    ¡°Rob ran somewhere at the first sight of bloody food, and your girlfriend, of course, took off. Who knows where in the embers she is, and your goofy face is making me want to smack you!¡± Arson realized Xani was flying, and felt a pang at knowing he currently couldn¡¯t manage the same feat. He¡¯d tried to side step the system restriction, but decided not to try again unless his life depended on it.


    The seal on his arm had began to burn, and the research he¡¯d done on seals since receiving the one on his palm, was intensive.


    Many who¡¯d broken seals had lost limbs, and though Arson¡¯s regeneration abilities were impressive, there were many with grander capabilities than Arson currently that had lost limbs to seals that had not grown back at all. Explosions with a sacrifice unlike any other for Cultivators.


    ¡°Where are you, Xani? I¡¯m on my way now,¡± When Xani responded next, Arson could only shake his head as he jumped from the roof top.


    ¡°About time, old man, could you move any slower!¡±

 Chapter 147.21: Fortnight 13: Bursting at the Seams

    ¡°Today is the day,¡± said Seneschal. He looked around at the others that sat at the table with him, and grinned.


    There with him were Alister Kim, Queen Amorra ManaMonarch, Bernard Maelstrom, Caspian Coin, Chozen Lilith Crown,, her brothers, Orbit and Tartaria, and the youngest prince of the realm of Maelstrom, Alexander Archon. There were many other powerful figure heads at the table, but Seneschal felt them to be only partially valuable to the efforts of the war to come.


    The individuals all conversed casually, and Seneschal found himself shocked at how well this organization of terrorists and HonorBorn nobles seemed to fit like misshapen puzzle pieces, forced to fit within the same boundaries.


    After a while a woman strode into the room and was guided toward Alexander. The woman¡¯s wide-eyed gaze let Seneschal know that the woman must have recognized some of the faces in the room and was astonished at the sight.


    Finally she and the guards that escorted her stopped beside the prince and she leaned in to whisper. The words came to Seneschal¡¯s ears as if they¡¯d been spoken directly to him, making the demon¡¯s brow raise.


    ¡°If I find a way, I¡¯m going to kill you, you little brat, and that¡¯s not all, I¡¯m going to¡ª¡°


    Alexander cut the woman off with a raised hand. The young boy¡¯s gesture powerful, making not only the princess he¡¯d been talking to pause, but the woman who was speaking to as well.


    ¡°Waste any more of my time and you won¡¯t have any more time to waste,¡± started Alexander, glaring at the woman beside him before he smiled back at Princess Chozen Crown.


    ¡°Have you finished what I needed of you?¡±


    The woman nodded, and the prince¡¯s smile deepened.


    ¡°Good, have the guards take you home, I will contact you soon with payment.¡±


    ¡°Payment, what kind of payment?¡±


    Alexander just glared up at the woman, and Seneschal couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the grumbled response she returned as she was escorted out the room.


    ¡°Abduct me, and then threaten my life only to pay me in the end, must be true what they say about HonorBorn children all being crazy¡­¡±


    Alexander¡¯s gaze shifted to Seneschal¡¯s from halfway down the long table and nodded, giving the demon the signal that their task was complete. The final piece of what the group needed to accomplish to take the realm of Maelstrom as a whole was enough that even Seneschal had begun to believe it to be potentially impossible, yet¡­


    ¡°If I may¡­¡±


    Everyone in the room looked in his direction and Seneschal pressed his hands on the table in front of him, taking in the gazes of an incredible number of renowned individuals and began.


    ¡°I have good news,¡± continued Seneschal and all around fell silent.


    ¡°Our project is done and the final step of our plan can now begin.¡±


    ¡°That is amazing, I was beginning to believe that the goal we¡¯d set forth was never going to come to pass,¡± said Alister Kim, giving Seneschal a supportive nod as he spoke.


    ¡°So¡­ we can really do it now,¡± started Chozen. The princess of the foreign realm was more excited than many there, as her want for the plan to succeed was higher than many there.


    ¡°That would be amazing,¡± finished Amorra. The Queen and the princess beside her both had much to gain if the machine they¡¯d developed worked, and Seneschal couldn¡¯t help but smile as he nodded toward both of them.


    ¡°Yes, we will start with the realm layer first, and then begin the expansion to other realms soon,¡± responded Seneschal. The demon couldn¡¯t hide his own excitement, slowly bringing his hands together. Though the gesture was performed at glacial speeds, the clap that emanated rang throughout the room.


    ¡°This will be the grandest spectacle anyone has ever witnessed,¡± said Seneschal. He looked at those gathered once more and pulled down the hood of his cowled jacket, letting his long black hair fall free.


    His pure ivory horns came into existence like that of a stag¡¯s own antlers. Normally hidden by the spacial pocket of his jackets hood, his horns made all around stare wide-eyed.


    Though Seneschal¡¯s voice sounded like that of a gruff old man, and his beard was as grey and white as any Sekt elder, his facial features were like that of a middle aged man in his prime. While his horns were as refined as an Ancient DragonKin male. The horns forming a crown around his head, both elegant and terrifying to take in.


    Seneschal¡¯s smile grew at the faces of those around him and he spread his arms wide.


    ¡°Soon, Cloud Lake, Ascension and the realm of Maelstrom will become one, and a new dawn will begin.¡±


    It was then that Bernard lifted his glass and gestured all around, clinking glasses with the sneering Caspian.


    ¡°Cheers, to the dawn of a new age!¡±


    ¡­


    Arson walked toward a burned section of the City of Palaces that he¡¯d never seen before. Not even from the vantage point he¡¯d visited the day he arrived.


    It wasn¡¯t until the moment he stood in front of the scorched ring that lined the perimeter of the massive library that he was even able to truly set his eyes on the home of tomes and knowledge.


    He looked around and realized that if he wasn¡¯t looking directly at the structure, he couldn¡¯t see it at all. It wasn¡¯t until Anastasia spoke up that he understood why.


    ¡°Look at the scorch marks.¡±


    Arson gave the burn lines left in a circular pattern a second look, and was able to distinguish the runic patterns scorched into the ground. The tribal-like symbols somehow beautifully eccentric and chaotic in nature all at the same time.


    ¡°That seems¡­¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t know how to feel. He knew instinctually that if he didn¡¯t have the library grounds as his absolute focus, that he would forget what the building looked like with every blink that he took. Even in the briefest moment that he glanced toward Light behind him, Arson had to struggle to return his eyes to the library.


    It''s no wonder that none within the city visits this place.


    ¡°You can¡¯t seriously be headed in there!¡±


    Arson chuckled at the flailing Light, the young elf wrapped in an ever tightening cage of draconic bones that Arson connected to one of his ChainArrows to make it easier to drag him through the streets of his home.


    ¡°Of course I am, Nightlight, why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Because it is a place where the strong go to die, a place where only truly horrific things lie, where even gods hide their secrets and mistakes. Just let me go and I will never bother you again, I will forget I even knew your name, as will time itself, I promise!¡±


    Arson looked at his wrist then, and Anastasia¡¯s widened eyes met Arson¡¯s own before he felt an imperceptible shrug returned in response to his questioning gaze. Arson returned a shrug of his own and sighed heavily.


    ¡°I suppose you can wait outside for me right here, Nightlight, just be good and try and keep the screaming to a minimum.¡±


    Arson fired the arrow Light was connected to, the arrow lodged itself deep into the marble of the perimeter wall at the top edge. Light screamed as Arson lightly kicked off the ground and drifted upward toward the upper ledge of the perimeter wall, stepping into the library grounds in two steps.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Come on, you can¡¯t leave me here!¡±


    Arson ignored the screams. His mind consumed by how light his steps were. He felt as if he could fly since he learned the movement technique during his recent training, losing himself in the freedom his new elusive skill gave him.


    ¡°You''re so simple sometimes, you know that, right?¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t even look down to answer his watch, growing more excited by the sight of the seven towers that surrounded a skyscraper so tall that its top couldn¡¯t be seen. The surrounding towers were like that of a staircase, each one taller than the last. The structures all connected by enclosed bridges that wrapped around the main building in a spiral.


    ¡°Simple how?¡±


    ¡°You are smiling like it''s your birthday and you''re about to try cake for the first time, and I don¡¯t know if it''s because there may be books in there for you to read, or if it''s because you want to try and climb that bloody building that is filled with demons for all we know¡­¡±


    ¡°Am I really that transparent?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well, between you and me, it''s both of those reasons exactly!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Son of a DemonSpawn¡­¡±


    Stream cursed, and Camilla giggled as they approached the library.


    ¡°Your friend has an odd sense of humor, doesn¡¯t he.¡±


    Stream looked over at Light, who glared at him and Camilla.


    ¡°Let me down from here, now!¡±


    Light kicked his feet frantically, trying to dislodge himself, and Stream did his best not to laugh, knowing that the situation was already bad enough. Yet, he couldn¡¯t help himself.


    The ridiculousness of the entire occurrence made Stream chuckle aloud, shaking his head slowly at the sight before him. Before Arson arrived the sight of Light being captured like a common criminal and hung from a wall would have been an absurdity, but now after spending time with the young Cultivator he was honestly more surprised that it hadn¡¯t occurred sooner.


    ¡°Should we let him down,¡± Stream asked Camilla, but she shook her head before responding.


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t have time... do you see how high up Arson is already?¡± Camila said with an almost completely vertical point upward toward the shortest of six towers around the main structure.


    ¡°Sparks, I didn¡¯t even see him up there.¡± Stream focused, only truly able to see the pure white of Arson¡¯s longbow draped across his back.


    ¡°Embers, that is cool, are you ever going to learn how to do that ArchersStep or whatever Arson called that movement skill?¡±


    ¡°Ha, why would I have to do something like that?¡±


    ¡°It would be nice right now, don¡¯t you think? How are we going to get up there?¡±


    Stream gave Camilla a shy smile and spread his arms wide, dropping his hands to his sides before looking away with a shrug.


    ¡°I know how I¡¯m getting up there, I¡¯m a giant,¡± said Stream underneath his breath.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you even think about it,¡± started Camilla, but it was too late. She tried to lunge toward Stream, but he¡¯d already jumped.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back, Cam. Help Light get down and go get my father!¡±


    Stream was over the wall and bounding after Arson in two powerful leaps.


    ¡°It¡¯s date night, you owe me, you brat!¡±


    Stream couldn¡¯t help but smirk. He had to push the thoughts of their date aside as he chased down his friend. Arson was closing in on an opened window that Stream hadn¡¯t noticed before entering the grounds.


    For a moment Stream wondered if he could either break the barricade made from planted TitanSteel trees in front of the massive front doors, or burn them down with the new weapon Arson had made for him, giving up on the idea once he watched Arson disappear inside.


    He was up the few dozen long steps that led to the base of the trees in a handful of breaths and quickly began his climb. It wasn¡¯t until Stream was half way up the trees and a third of the way toward his target that Stream was forced to acknowledge the feat of dexterity and strength that Arson must have used and be capable of to have climbed up the library so quickly.


    ¡°That fool is a bloody monster in a Cultivator¡¯s vessel¡­¡±


    As if the soul of reality itself wanted to agree with Stream, a roar was heard emanating from the interior of the library. The timeliness of the sound made Stream pause. Though he felt it was a ridiculous notion that his thought alone could trigger the event to occur, he still stayed frozen, waiting in silence for something, anything, to happen.


    It was as he sighed in relief that he felt the tremble begin. A soft vibration that shook the entire City of Palaces and the jungles beyond its limits. Stream cursed as everything started to shake violently, making his upward climb shift from exhausting and subtly difficult, to incredibly dangerous.


    ¡°Son of a bloody demon¡­ Arson!¡±


    ¡­


    Across the trial planes held within the dimension created for all things forgotten, a group of entities began to rise from their slumbers.


    Known as the Primes to those who descended from them, an awakening unlike any other since their imprisonment touched the minds of those connected to the original Reaper of all. A Cultivator unlike any before or after. The first immortal, also known as the King of the Void Sun.


    Their sleep was said to be due to their lost connection to the most powerful entity to ever live and with that loss, came a new age. An age where the primordials could sleep unbothered by the demands of both the living and the dead.


    However, those same Primes knew that a new dawn would come. A time where their return would be necessary to restore the balance that came with peace. As endless life for some, could only be sustained with the culling of keepers of wasted power and potential.


    At first, came the awakening of the Seven Bodied Monarch. Their knowledge alone was enough to create realms, destroy entire universes of life, and even control the system that regulates Uni-Vare. The group sitting within their palace, and home said to be filled with all forgotten knowledge, all opened their eyes at once, and gasped.


    Avatars of races even older than Elders and Ancients, all stood slowly, taking in their environment for the first instance since the dawn of time itself.


    The group looked at one another, making sure that all of the members of the hive soul were there and returned from the DreamScape itself.


    ¡°The soul of Father is being reborn,¡± said the first Elf known as Maximo. His body rejuvenated itself from a state of skeletal proportions and an illustrious robe draped itself across his shoulders from thin air as his wings spread wide, a plume of gold and white feathers filled their frame.


    ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Maximo turned to see his brother Vigor rise to his feet. The giant orc¡¯s own muscular form returning layer by layer as his muscles grew and grew, until his pure white skin reformed and again became fitted with black and gold armor. The material made from a metal only known by his son, the god of tinkering known as Metal.


    ¡°Where are we? This is not Endless,¡± asked a musical voice, and Maximo turned to see his sister, Union.


    Her body formed yet still seemed ethereal. Her ghostly form as translucent and hard to capture with even an immortal eye, moved like mist unless she was speaking; which would cause the person beholding her to see the most beautiful figure their mind could imagine.


    ¡°It seems we are in a prison made for father, I can feel his armor nearby,¡± explained another. Maximo turned again to see his brother, Emperor. The horned demon stood and darkness wrapped itself around the monarch like an all black business suit, tailored to perfection. The demon¡¯s gaze distant, his red eyes flaring with golden light momentarily as he peered through the walls of the palace they resided within.


    ¡°Should we not be greeted by one of the Icarian, only one of their blood should be able to bring forth a candidate for Father¡¯s replacement¡­¡± The familiar tone of Maximo¡¯s powerfully invigorated sister, Ambrosia spoke, her voice rippling through the room made flowers grow and the once prevalent garden around them all bloom. The mother of Eve and all mortal life, such as humans and the Demi gods known as Cultivators, couldn¡¯t help but be concerned, as what she stated was true, and gave even the fearless Maximo pause.


    Maximo didn¡¯t enjoy seeing his sister this way. Her halo¡¯s normally unrivaled light dimmed, only lighting the area around herself, making her pure white toga look immaculate even as she dusted herself off, frowning at the sight of her dusty attire.


    ¡°Something is wrong with the realms, I can feel the distortions of balance from here, Endless and Heaven are no longer one, and from what I can tell the Icarians are all but extinct.¡± All of the siblings looked over to see Aquarium float to her feet,. The Elemental queen folding her feet underneath herself to sit on a storm cloud that formed beneath her from thin air. Her form only distinguishable from the darkness around them all as the sight of galaxies and universes spun through the limits of her pure black body. The tone of her skin only equivalent to that of the night sky itself.


    ¡°Surely you jest, sister,¡± said Maximo, but what was spoken next confirmed it all for the siblings.


    ¡°She does not lie, brother, things are worse than we could have ever predicted. The laws of creation and destruction have been broken, the system of power has been rewritten, and the gods have begun to use our children, and even their own as nothing more than tools, or maybe even worse, as nothing more than batteries or simple food for their pets¡­¡±


    Mimic lifted his head from a book, and turned to look toward Maximo. The Fey''s entire form rippled and changed constantly. At any instant the king could seem to be related to any of the siblings there, almost as if he was all perceivable races that could be or ever would be.


    The siblings all looked at one another at Mimic¡¯s words, knowing that though he was the creator of the mortal lie, he himself could tell no lie. Once truth was held by the sin eater, the primordial could not stray from its boundaries.


    Maximo nearly cursed, but an odd sound was heard. The entire group lifted their gazes to the far side of the throne room to see a youngling wearing a crown on his head reading a rather large tome that floated in front of him as he ate one of the apples grown in Ambrosia¡¯s gardens.


    ¡°Hey Arson, I know that your closed eye dominion isn¡¯t working currently, but¡­¡±


    The woman¡¯s voice came from the youngling¡¯s wrist and he looked up to see the children of Reaper standing there. His eyes widened momentarily, before his brow furrowed, and he shrugged, waving at the group before he walked away. Maximo looked around at his siblings to see a plethora of various levels of confusion returned in his direction, then back to where the boy had just been.


    ¡°Was that our father¡¯s journal in his hand,¡± asked Maximo.


    ¡°Yes,¡± responded Mimic.


    ¡°Are you telling me that we were woken by that weak Cultivator we just saw,?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± repeated Mimic.


    ¡°Why does he smell like that of an Icarian?¡±


    ¡°Because he is one,¡± said Aquarium.


    ¡°But¡­,¡± started Maximo, but nothing else came. The inventor of science and engineering as concepts struck stupid by the sight of a mixed blooded child whose very genes should be an impossibility. Maximo looked between his siblings, the entire group stunned to silence by the weight of their own thoughts.


    ¡°What?¡±

 Volume 3.5 Prologue: Selfish Needs

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say it, Arson. I swear to the Maiden, no, I swear on the very love I have for your mother, I will beat you silly if you sparking say it one more bloody time!¡±


    Arson looked between all of his team and back to Troy; the threatening finger of his best friend still pointed directly at him.


    Everyone had frozen at both the building tension in the penthouse they were all locked inside and the exclaimed threat. Khalif stopped packing the spacial bag he held with gold bricks. Rob stopped trying to unsuccessfully swim through the pool full of diamonds and jewels that left him floundering about waist deep with his lower half unmoving stuck beneath the weight of his surroundings. While the normally uncaring Xani even looked around wide-eyed with her fingers hovering above the virtual keyboard she used to hack into the penthouses security systems.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    "No, no buts, just shut up, and prove it, we are all locked in here because of your sparking plans, spark your bloody plans, just get us out of here!¡±


    Khalif couldn¡¯t help but snicker as Micro walked into the room and looked between the smiling Arson and the glaring Troy, saying the one thing that Troy didn¡¯t want to hear in that moment.


    ¡°What happened, she sparked up because the plan seems a little off?¡±


    Arson nodded slowly, wondering how much of his best friend¡¯s threat was frustrated yelling, or the promise of actual violence.


    ¡°Hmm, well I¡¯ve been there, more than a few hundred times so I get it, but you just gotta trust the¡ª¡°


    ¡°Cro don¡¯t say,¡± Arson tried to stop his friend, but it was too late. Troy roared, turning toward Micro as her veins lit with dazzling colors and charged the young woman.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had it up to here with you!¡±


    Micro smirked and Arson knew as Troy rushed her, nothing good was to come, as Troy summoned hard light clones of herself and Micro drew her blades. Khalif walked up to Arson still holding a bag full of gold and diamond bricks with his hand out toward Arson.


    ¡°Pay up, I told you this was gonna happen,¡± said Khalif. Arson nodded as he put a flash drive full of credits in his hand, thinking about the incidents that led up to this moment.


    Is my revenge truly worth all of this¡­


    All the actions he took over the last fortnight since returning from Endless flashed into his mind and Arson couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself as he watched his best friend and Micro fight, destroying the penthouse they were locked inside.


    What, am I kidding? This has been an absolute blast¡­!


    ¡­A fortnight prior¡­


    The vacation was supposed to be nothing more than a few days long. A quarter fortnight and Arson assumed his team¡¯s issues would be solved. However, everything changed the very first night they¡¯d arrived, after all the members of the Builders of Godhood took part in their first events, and they even managed to win their first team-based event.


    The game of simple capture the flag in an abandoned neighborhood at the depths of RaidCorp Coliseum had captured Arson¡¯s interest. The energies flowing throughout the place the game had been held drew Arson''s attention completely, and the groups simple plans changed drastically.


    They explored the neighborhood for quite a while, finding nothing. Arson could see that his friends had grown tired, and decided that they should either turn back or find a place to sleep in for the night.


    They put the decision to a vote and none of his friends seemed to care that they wouldn¡¯t be staying in plush beds, all just wanting a place to rest their heads, knowing that they could find a more comfortable destination when they woke up.


    While looking for a place to stay, the group explored the dense underground of buildings far beneath the resort, and eventually came across an abandoned hotel with a locked front door. Some would say this was a completely opportunistic circumstance, while Arson knew it to be step one of his plan, to rob RaidCorp blind, sensing a lingering spacial energy entangling every inch of the building before them.


    Before Arson had even decided to come to the resort he¡¯d done his research on the best places to go for vacation. He had many choices, but in all reality, his decision was made the moment that he saw the rumors about RaidCorp Coliseum.


    An entire discussion board site had been constructed on the HoloWeb, devoted to the mystery of the challenge the corporation gave to all of its competitors.


    They were meant to climb what Arson thought to be 13 floors of dungeon-like challenges, stacked in between floors laden with events that served as entertainment for the rest of the resort guests who paid to stay and relax, rather than accept the challenge.


    Arson suspected it was a scam before he¡¯d even arrived at the resort, but absolutely knew it after finding the abandoned building that all of he and builders, now stood in front of, with the exception of Lane and Jasmine, who¡¯d already left for the supposed higher floors.


    This place is filled with dimensional pockets¡­


    Arson sighed, sucking his teeth in annoyance. He dropped the monocle that he¡¯d stolen from Almarine before he¡¯d left on vacation, knowing that he would need something to bridge the gap between his Overlay¡¯s undeveloped Analyze skill, and what he suspected would be hidden within the resort.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Thank the Maiden I did, not that Almarine may not murder me once she figures it out. He laughed to himself mentally and took a few steps back, walking down the buildings front steps backward as he took in the area.


    ¡°Come on, Arson, everyone is tired, can¡¯t we just use some of the points we gathered to rent hotel rooms. This place is filled with dust and demons for all we know,¡± asked Troy, rubbing at her eyes.


    ¡°Just give me a moment, darling, don¡¯t you find this place odd?¡±


    The builders all looked at one another, shaking their heads, looking around at every other building, but not the one they all stood before.


    Hmm, I wonder if they¡¯d even have been able to walk up the steps if I hadn¡¯t led them there?


    His team¡¯s gazes seemed to fall on everything but the solid structure before them all. Khalif and Rob stared at the crushed shop to the right. While Troy looked at Arson, Xani stared off toward the dilapidated pawn shop to the left.


    How many formations must be inside this building for them not to notice it at all has got to be ungodly¡­ would I even have noticed it without the monocle?


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, just need to go check something.¡±


    The group gave him nods, and Arson strolled off toward the back of the building.


    The area had a multitude of shops, and different abandoned attractions, but Arson ignored them all until he found what he was looking for.


    Is this going to cause me more trouble than its worth?


    Arson sighed again as he looked at the large rune circle that lay with one half of its perimeter on the ground and the other up the wall surrounding what looked like an old fashion electrical breaker.


    He timidly stepped into the circle and was relieved when nothing happened. The runic circle was unfamiliar to him in ways that sent his mind toward thoughts of traps he¡¯d barely escaped while in Endless, but eventually his heart calmed after nothing was triggered.


    He then opened the breaker box and saw an incredibly advanced wall screen, that seemed misplaced in the old building.


    The surface was in the shape like that of a hand, with the eleven pointed star iconically known as the symbol for mana at the center of the palm. Each tip of the star a different color.


    Arson raised his hand, then lowered it. Only to raise it again.


    ¡°What, are you scared? I¡¯ve seen you fight gods, kid, come on, it¡¯s just a mana scanner.¡±


    Arson looked at Anastasia before he responded casually.


    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s ignore the fact that I was most likely placed inside the body of a demigod while doing all of those things. I guarantee you, Hercules is actually capable of far more than even that and is probably just unaware.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, hurry it up, I wanna see what happens!¡±


    Arson shook his head laughing at his watch as he placed his hand on the scanner.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me, please don¡¯t kill me, please¡­¡± A message filled Arson¡¯s vision while he chanted, and his brow furrowed as he smiled, both happy and confused.


    *Available Overlay land slots 3/3, would you like to purchase Forgotten Shopping Strip 7 of ¡­calculating number? Y/N*


    ¡°OOW, now this sounds like straight up and down fun,¡± said Anastasia.


    ¡°Or an absolute waste of our time¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s haunted,¡± started Arson.


    ¡°Zombie farm,¡± continued Anastasia.


    ¡°Evil princess cloning facility?¡±


    ¡°Torture laboratory time loop!¡±


    Arson looked at his watch with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°What, too soon? Noted¡­¡± Anastasia invisibly shrugged, and Arson thought momentarily.


    ¡°It may help us get up to the higher floors if there is a way to get more points inside?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll never know unless we try, right?¡± asked Anastasia rhetorically, smirking up at Arson as he finally selected ¡°Yes¡± on his Overlay¡¯s prompt.


    A lever extended from the wall beside the breaker, and Arson sighed for the final time as he pulled it.


    Here goes nothing.


    *Connection made, Available Overlay Land Slots 2/3, would you like to rename your new shopping strip? Y/N*


    Arson gasped as an incredible amount of his available mana left his body, pulled through the lever. He tried to let go, but the runic circle around him began to grow in illumination. Vibrant lights turning on in all directions as more prompts popped up in his vision.


    *Mana sufficient to repair all available shops.*


    *Mana sufficient to maintain all formation systems.*


    *Mana sufficient for access to available upgrade system.*


    More and more prompts popped up, but Arson could no longer read any of them, as he passed out, still holding the access lever. Unable to see the runic lines lighting up, appearing from thin air all throughout the alleyway he stood on, connecting the runic circle around him to nearly every building that surrounded the hotel.


    ¡°Son of a¡­ can you please stop passing out, my guy? Geez!¡±


    ¡°Hey, Demon-eyed girl, bloody sparks¡­ what is her name again, Travis, no Troy!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t act like you can¡¯t hear me,¡± yelled Anastasia from Arson¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°Troy!¡±


    ¡­


    Troy pounded on the dome of translucent light that blocked her from Arson. She had no idea what was happening.


    The buildings around them were being rebuilt brick by brick in an astonishing display of power. Power that Troy worried could only be coming from her collapsed best friend.


    Even while she tried to break down the barrier between her and Arson, more and more of the surroundings lit. Internal energy systems restored from the dilapidated messes they¡¯d been but moments prior, to become seemingly renovated structures in what felt like an instant.


    ¡°Do something else, you lowborn idiot!¡±


    Troy glanced at the watch, already more than annoyed with the AI. While she¡¯d been trying to get to Arson, the watch had done nothing but pander on about her supposed insufficiencies, berating her without end.


    ¡°Why does Arson even deal with that bloody thing¡¯s mouth all the time? I¡¯d have tossed it ages ago,¡± mumbled Troy under her breath.


    ¡°More useful than you, Timothy, and I¡¯m no thing. Arson knows that above all else, if I were a mere tool like you, he¡¯d have given up on me and moved on like he did with Cro,¡± said Anastasia calling Troy yet another of a near dozen random T names more commonly given to boys.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°You heard me, Thomas, now hurry up and get Arson out of here. If I have to do it for you, he¡¯ll just be that much more assured of your uselessness¡­¡±


    Troy¡¯s mind scattered momentarily, a culmination of her own insecurities about Arson¡¯s travels flooding to the forefront of her mind. There was so much he hadn¡¯t shared with her since he¡¯d returned, and even more that she feared could potentially break her heart after learning, especially regarding his time with Micro.


    Anastasia¡¯s words rang repetitively in her mind and a familiar sensation bloomed in her chest; Troy standing with both her hands spread flat across the surface of the dome that separated her from Arson. With each repetition of her thoughts came a growing anger, and a surge of incoming power, Troy unconsciously drawing on her and Arson¡¯s connection.


    ¡°So he thinks I¡¯m useless, and keeps you while all you do is try and kill him¡­¡±


    Troy didn¡¯t see the growing smirk on Anastasia¡¯s face as the field of mana began to flicker. Her now distant scowl fixated on nothing but the building in front of her; cascading emotions swallowing any possible sensibilities like a tidal wave.


    ¡°You know it¡¯s funny, I even told him that I tried to kill him before he and I were tossed into Endless, and you¡¯ll never believe what he said,¡± prompted Anastasia, gaining a glare from Troy, pulling her full focus in her direction with every word.


    ¡°He said at least he could depend on me to test his power whenever those around him failed to grow alongside him, made me feel like I¡¯m the only one he actually can depend on, you know what never mind, I got this¡­¡±


    Anastasia¡¯s words furthered the cycle of defeat and rage building in Troy¡¯s mind. She couldn¡¯t imagine what she could have done to gain the watch¡¯s ire, but Troy didn¡¯t care, only wanting to prove Anastasia wrong, she focused on the pull of power that swelled at her center.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you who is useless, you piece of outdated nuts and bolts,¡± muttered Troy. She couldn¡¯t hear her friend yelling her name. She couldn¡¯t feel anything, even as the influx of light pored into her hands. She didn¡¯t even notice that the barrier between her and Arson had vanished, and that light mana was now being drained from her surroundings in an ever-growing torrent.


    I¡¯m not useless!


    Then she was tackled. Khalif shook her violently to try and wake her from her sudden delirium, confused features crossing her face as the sounds of everything happening around her rushed back, snapping into reality in a blink of explosive noise.


    ¡°Good girl, just a little bit more and I can shut this trap down,¡± said Anastasia in a whisper. Her manipulation of Troy going completely unnoticed by the young Cultivator as she stewed angrily in the depths of her own mind.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡°what¡± me, you¡¯re gonna kill him!¡±


    Troy blinked in confusion, until she looked over to where the others gathered around the slumped form of Arson. Between him and where she now lay were visible strands of various colored mana passing between her and him; the flow of power moving entirely in one direction.


    Am I doing that?


    Troy forced herself to withdraw from the sensation of power that moved between her and Arson, feeling briefly as if her body was on the verge of exploding with power.


    She took a deep breath and felt her minds chaotic thoughts calm as she watched the strands of power disperse into thin air, once more looking at Arson.


    She¡¯d never seen him look so pale in their entire friendship. The sight of his crumpled figure making her heart race as it took her breath away momentarily. She couldn¡¯t help the scream that left her lips as she scrambled to her feet in an alarmed panic.


    ¡°Arson!¡±

 Volume 3.5: Episode 1: Entrepreneurial Reluctance

    Arson blinked. He felt as if he¡¯d just slept for a fortnight, his head pounding as the light above him seemed to breach the depths of his mind physically.


    ¡°If this is the afterlife, shouldn¡¯t it have come without pain?¡± groaned Arson underneath his breath.


    He turned his head slightly as the sensation of a cool breeze touched his cheek and neck. A runic ceiling fan creating a slightly visible cyclone of air at thecenter of the room far above him. He hadn¡¯t ever seen one with his own eyes, only knowing of their existence from books he¡¯d read in the dump as a child.


    ¡°That is odd¡­¡±


    He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the invention, knowing that the oddity was older than the orphanage of Maelstrom itself. The flickering pattern of runes spinning at various speeds formed that of a ringed planet above, also seemed to be what was illuminating the area.


    Hmm, where am I?


    Arson dropped his gaze to look at the rest of the room, his brow furrowing at his environment. White ceilings softly transitioned into deep blues. Every wall around him like that of the ocean depths, painted with fantastical monsters thought to be dead in most realms.


    A soft heat touched his face and the smell of burning wood drifted toward him, and Arson looked to see a literal fire pit in the middle of the strange living room he found himself in.


    Wood was stacked in a circle around the edges of the bowl that formed the pit, gravity used to keep the fire going; new logs dropping into the center with each set of logs that managed to be burned to ash within the miniature bonfire. Khalif walked into Arson¡¯s view, adding more logs to the rim of the pit, before walking away.


    Was he smiling?


    Arson felt his pillow move, only then realizing as he turned his head once more that he was laying his head in Troy¡¯s lap; the two apparently lounging on a rather comfortable couch.


    Who cares about the pain, this is obviously heaven¡­


    Arson closed his eyes as he rubbed his temples.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± said Troy. Arson nodded, trying not to smile at the sound of Troy¡¯s voice. He wanted to play cool with the young Cultivator, but found their every interaction to be that of a whimsical obstacle course that more often than not left him feeling like an undisciplined child, entirely controlled by overwhelming emotions.


    ¡°Catch me up, darling, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Okay, how should I put this,¡± started Troy, forcing a smile onto his face as she began to run her hands through his hair.


    ¡°You walked us down a dark alley, left us on a random doorstep on an abandoned block in the middle of nowhere, disappeared to go investigate something, all of which you know already,¡± said Troy in a way that made Arson know he was being glared at.


    ¡°Then out of nowhere, all of the lights on the block turn on, and everyone can all of a sudden see, or keep our attention on the buildings around us, weird, but we push pass,¡± said Troy, moving her hands to rub Arson¡¯s temples.


    ¡°Your stupid robot started to scream for us to come help you, calling me a demon for some reason,¡± said Troy before Arson cut in.


    ¡°It¡¯s your eyes, it is a trait of demon blood, it¡¯s one of the reasons why Jade is viewed badly in many HonorBorn circles,¡± said Arson, opening his eyes as Troy stopped massaging his head.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Arson nodded. Troy¡¯s hurumph and thoughtful gaze were enough to tell him that another conversation would more than likely be had, as the young woman continued where she left off. He once more closed his eyes as she spoke to him, rubbing his head.


    ¡°We found you dangling from a circuit breaker, that¡¯s what Xani said it was called at least, I just assumed the thing was a bloody trap, I mean it was draining all the mana out of you. You looked half dead by the time we were able to get you off the sparking thing,¡± Troy explained frustratedly pressing harder as she massaged.


    Good thing I¡¯m stronger than I once was, or this would be even more painful rather than as soothing as it is.


    ¡°So where are we now, inside the hotel we stopped in front of?¡±


    ¡°Yessir, and this place is absolutely absurd.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°For starters, it¡¯s like your mother¡¯s villa, way bigger interior than exterior, there is also a portal room with portals that leading to every other business on this block, not to mention there is another hallway full of dungeon portals, I¡¯ll let Khalif and Rob explain that bit to you though, they¡¯ve been exploring those while I stayed with you.¡±


    ¡°And Xani?¡±


    ¡°She is inside a repair plant or manufacturing assembly, she was speaking like ten thousand words a second when she was explaining it earlier so if I¡¯m being honest I caught very little of what she said.¡±


    ¡°Noted,¡± said Arson sighing as he sat up, beginning to scroll through the various notifications that had popped up into his Overlay whilst he slept.


    ¡°You good,¡± asked Troy, standing as Arson scrolled mentally.


    ¡°Yeah, just checking some things out, got new pages when my Overlay interfaced with this place.¡±


    Troy softly lifted Arson¡¯s chin, making him meet her eyes as she pointed at him with her free hand. The gesture reminding Arson of their adopted mother Almarine momentarily.


    ¡°If you die on bloody vacation, I¡¯ll beat you back into the world of the living,¡± said Troy, her pointed finger transitioning into a clenched fist. The threat confusing but the seriousness of his best friend¡¯s gaze making him believe the words completely.


    ¡°Noted¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Arson explored the hotel with a far more precautious and slow evaluation of the building than his friends had. Not only because they hadn¡¯t seen how many hidden rooms and portals truly filled the structure from topto bottom, but also because his senses told him from the very moment that he¡¯d left the living room positioned just beyond the front door, that he was in constant danger.


    Walking the halls put the hairs at the back of his neck nearly upright, and he wished his friends¡¯ sudden love for the space helped, but it didn¡¯t. In fact it only made him that much more suspicious. No, he hadn¡¯t been attacked¡­ yet, but it didn¡¯t change the constant thrum at the back of his mind that sang of impending peril.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    So far he¡¯d used the hotel¡¯s elevator to climb the first few floors. The second floor was like that of an office building with an open floor plan and conference areas. The third housed all the portals and gateways to other buildings on the block the hotel was on. While the third was like that of a massive field filled with dungeon portals.


    The third floor made no sense to Arson as the elevator exited to what seemed to be a day lit plain, completely outside and filled with a budding forested jungle. Monsters of various types seen in abundant numbers all coexisting without seeming care for one another. Which made Arson wonder if the animals and monsters were even aware of the habitat being filled with both predators and prey.


    Some of the gateways on the third floor were framed in stone, and even had titles at their apexes that informed Arson what each gateway was likely used for without entering. As after he¡¯d entered the one titled ¡°Eggs¡± and saw a massive cave filled with bird-like creatures all laying eggs within a catacomb, he didn¡¯t have to think too hard to realize the third floor was without a doubt being used as a type of resource farm.


    He hadn¡¯t been seen by the black hawk-like birds, until he¡¯d actually grabbed a singular egg. This caused an all-out assault by all of the avian that filled the oddly beehive like catacombs, until Arson rushed free of the gateway.


    A few of the creatures exited alongside him, all frantically attacking, until they emerged back onto the third floor. Then everything changed. The birds all fluttering off as if they were suddenly completely unbothered by Arson or the plethora of foreign creatures around them.


    Arson left the floor and continued up. It wasn¡¯t until he got off on the fourth floor that he processed the fact that the elevator only had two buttons, up, and down. This made travel rather slow in the elevator, and flared up in Arson¡¯s mind as a huge red flag.


    ¡°Won¡¯t be easy to escape the building if we were in a sudden rush to escape¡­¡±


    Arson¡¯s thought left his lips as he emerged onto the fourth floor, which seemed to be filled with lavish rooms. All of the room doors were open, leaving Arson to feel as if something could jump from any one of the doorways at any time.


    Next to every doorway to either side were two large floor-to-ceiling paintings and portraits. A person to either the left or right was framed with their name in eloquent fonts, all striking various poses, in different settings. While to the opposing side of the doorway was a random place, also titled with what Arson assumed was the name of the place being depicted.


    Having had been many places, he was easily able to ignore the foreign lands shown and even the strange cultures of each portrait he passed. Even more interesting to Arson were the walls in between. Every gap between the rooms seemed to be etched with scenes of battle, cataclysms, or even just glorious artwork of distant times and places that climbed all the way up the walls to the unseen ceilings above.


    Arson¡¯s eyes drifted up and down as he ventured forward. His path lit by dangling chandeliers in between the rooms. The lighting somehow unable to penetrate the darkness above where they were positioned.


    Arson couldn¡¯t see the end of the hallway as far as he¡¯d walked in, and had even come to a crossroads where no ends could be seen no matter the direction he turned.


    ¡°This makes me feel like I¡¯m exploring the most dangerous sectors of the dump at night.¡±


    Arson didn¡¯t even have to look at his watch, feeling the AI¡¯s intangible shrug at his words.


    ¡°I would normally take the time to call you paranoid, or even tell you to quit being a punk, but seeing that painting constantly changing, I¡¯m rather uncomfortable, I honestly feel like this is a sparking haunted hotel or something¡­¡±


    ¡°What do you mean,¡± asked Arson, slowly turning around to look at each portrait that could be seen from where he stood. A room could be accessed from each corner of the hallways crossroad, the walls long and slanted enough to form a octagon around him. Four rooms framed by four equally spacious hallways branching off from this point.


    Arson stopped turning, when he realized the eyes of one of the portraits was following his every movement. He took a step to the left, and then to the right. Each direction he moved, the paintings eyes followed. The blond was wearing a suit of slender red and black armor, her brown eyes penetrating through Arson as if the woman was alive and staring him down. He was momentarily drawn into the woman¡¯s gaze so much in fact that¡ª


    ¡°What are you doing all the way up here, there is like three entire floors beneath this one that are¡ª¡°


    Arson screamed and jumped backward, the cracked scythe he¡¯d gained from his first event inside RaidCorp Coliseum instantly in his hands from his spacial inventory; the weapon instantly thrumming with violent energies as he spun to face the speaker. Only to see a smirking Troy just standing there.


    ¡°Geez woman, you scared the sparks out of me,¡± said Arson storing his scythe. Troy laughed, shaking her head at him.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t even think something like that was possible, but okay, what are you doing all the way up here?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯ve only checked out four floors, who knows how many levels this place even has, the elevator doesn¡¯t have any numbers?¡±


    ¡°Umm, this is the seventh floor buddy, and I know you can count, did you hit the button a few times and forget?¡±


    ¡°Seventh floor, what are you talking about,¡± Arson trailed off, seeing the giant stylized seven above the elevator just down the hall behind Troy.


    What in the bloody sparks¡­


    ¡°This floor is weird, all the portraits are filled,¡± said Troy, brushing past Arson as she started to look around.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Arson, his attention fluttering between the confusion brought on by his traversal of the building thus far, and Troy walking slowly around him.


    ¡°On the fourth floor, all the portraits were empty until we entered the rooms and claimed them,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Then what changed,¡± asked Arson once he realized Troy wasn¡¯t going to say anything further; the young woman lost in her own perusal of the hall.


    ¡°Oddly enough, pictures of us replaced the portraits, and random places none of us had ever been before filled the frames on the other side of the doorways.¡±


    Troy stopped, crossing her arms before facing Arson as his mind drifted between countless conclusions; Troy raising a brow at his faraway stare.


    ¡°That¡¯s odd. What place popped up beside your portrait,¡± asked Arson, causing Troy to simply shrug before responding verbally.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, some place called Lemniscate.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, show me¡­¡±


    Arson pushed the odd paintings on the fourth floor to the back of his mind, following Troy down the hall and back into the elevator. He watched as the young Cultivator pushed the button three times, and the pair arrived on the fourth floor, detailed by the giant four that stood above the elevator once he stepped free of the lift.


    ¡°Strange¡­¡±


    How did I end up on the seventh floor then?


    ¡°See, this is the place that popped up next to my door, but I¡¯ve never seen this place in my entire life,¡± said Troy. Arson looked away from the number above the closing elevator doors, and approached Troy that stood just down the hall from him.


    The painting she stood before was of an absolutely majestic dynasty. A seemingly endless landscape of mana and light infused into every aspect of the architecture and design of the civilization presented left Arson momentarily captivated.


    ¡°Wow,¡± said Arson, glancing over to see the nodding Troy smiling at him.


    ¡°I know, right? So far, I think I have the coolest painting beside maybe Khalif.¡±


    ¡°What is his like?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to look at it yourself, I couldn¡¯t describe it without reading a dictionary¡¯s worth of words first.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, that peaks my interest, not going to lie, where is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over there, but I want you to pick a room first and see what yours ends up being,¡± said Troy, pulling Arson past a few claimed rooms to a doorway with two empty picture frames to either side of the empty rooms entryway.


    ¡°How do I claim it?¡±


    ¡°Just walk in,¡± explained Troy.


    Arson shrugged, walking into the room. He spun slowly looking around at the extremely accommodating living space with multiple rooms and comfortable furniture; only turning around after hearing a strange noise behind him.


    ¡°What the¡­¡± said both Troy and Arson at the same time.


    Arson stared at the name, Reaper as it was scrolled fancifully in Uni-Vare. The runes both foreign and familiar to Arson all at the same time. He squinted at the name, confused as to why it appeared there, his thoughts racing wildly until he finally gave attention to Troy; the young Cultivator also wearing an equally confused face.


    ¡°What is it?¡± asked Arson leaving the room as he spoke. He turned around to see a painting with the title, CloudLake City, and froze himself.


    The realm was that of a giant circular Platform. Made from white marble, floating through a vast sky. An entire civilization built atop the rock. The Seven Halos that separated the powerful from the impoverished, diminished in size as you traveled from the exterior to the interior of the CityNation, and Arson couldn¡¯t take his eyes from the painting.


    Not because the painting was of a place he¡¯d never been before, but because it was of a place he believed now, that he may have been before.


    A flickering image in his mind as he thought of his first memory, chaotically shifted between that of Armor Archon and Jade. The queen¡¯s grimace transforming into Jade¡¯s rarely worn warm smile.


    Though that was the most prominent detail for Arson when he scanned through his memories while in Endless, as he stared at the painting before him, another detail became far more notable to him.


    The skies are the same,¡± he mumbled to himself. The beautifully depicted space above the floating CityNation matched that of the sky that could be seen behind Jade in his memories.


    ¡°Hey Troy, are you sure that you have never been to that place in the portrait?¡±


    No response came from Troy, which made him look at her. Her gaze flickered through the many details of the portrait of Arson on the opposing side of the room¡¯s open entryway, which in turn made Arson look.


    There was a man completely unfamiliar to Arson. The man looked more like king LightLord than Arson. However the details that made Arson believe he may be the person in the portrait were numerous.


    The crown above the man¡¯s head was undoubtedly Arson¡¯s own. The black cowl that hung above a face made of stars was also unmistakably Arson¡¯s skill while in its stealth functionality. As well as the swirling gateways to Arson¡¯s soul that were filled with what looked like moving galaxies seen from a vast distance. All of these features were familiar.


    Yet these weren¡¯t the only significant details in the portrait. The man was flanked by countless people, all whose faces carried as much distinction if not more than Arson¡¯s own. Each person as unique as the person beside them. Seeing this Arson understood what had kept Troy¡¯s attention for so long. As he looked back toward himself, he knew instinctually that he could spend a fortnight looking at merely those gathered beside him and not come across the same detail twice.


    Yet his eyes were drawn to the man¡¯s wings. Even from the crouched position the man was in, sitting on his heels casually smiling, his wings were spread wide.


    The angelic anatomy was captivating in its own right. Each feather like diamonds consuming light and mana of untold variety.


    Arson¡¯s eyes moved to the man¡¯s arms. One completely tattooed like that of Jade, filled with mythical beasts of legend. While his opposing arm was seemingly crystalline in nature. The structure of the arm seemed to be filled with countless moving gears, all different colors within the entirely black mass that made up the arm.


    The tattooed arm held a shield bow, and Arson immediately felt connected to the weapon as he took it in. The moment he saw it, he felt as if his very soul reached out toward the weapon. His family¡¯s symbol runically inscribed across the face of the triangular shield, was attached to a bow that seemed to be constructed from dragon bones or maybe even that of a hydra. Arson was unsure.


    ¡°What is that¡­¡±


    Troy bent down, looking at a creature hiding behind Arson¡¯s crouched figure, and Arson couldn¡¯t tell if he was looking at a dog, a drake, or some sort of quadrupedal bird. The creature was large, but positioned perfectly in the portrait to be mostly hidden behind the man¡¯s wings.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± started Troy looking back at Arson over her shoulder with a sigh.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I owe Khalif money, you definitely have the coolest portrait¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Troy stood, headed toward the elevator, ignoring Arson¡¯s question entirely.


    ¡°Hey, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°To blow off some steam, I got an event soon.¡±

 Volume 3.5 Episode 2: A Living Dissection

    Promethia was frustrated. As the caretaker of her family¡¯s nearly forgotten kingdom, she was only given a few opportunities to work with disciples. More often than not, those she came across fell short of not only her expectations, but also weren¡¯t qualified due to a lack of a widened skill base.


    Now however, she had not one, but two individuals that matched her needs perfectly. She didn¡¯t want to have a favorite between the two, but¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare tap out, don¡¯t you sparking dare tap out,¡± she yelled at the screen with Arson in a cage match against multiple opponents. The young Cultivator was in a resort that was filled with challenges more likely to kill the vacationers than relieve any kind of stress.


    Arson decided to join a survival cage match that only paid out once the previous record was broken. This would normally be an effortless situation for Arson, except her senses told her that the young man¡¯s mana was being completely blocked; leaving him completely mortal and without skills, only able to rely on his body.


    Promethia paced, completely enthralled by the senseless violence, ignoring any screen beside the one Arson was on. She stood atop a balcony the size of a football field, watching her disciples traverse the trials as well as possible, yet since Arson had departed to finish his matters left uncompleted in his home realm, Promethia had been glued to the screen displaying him.


    Symphony Omen was an equally amazing young Cultivator, with one exception. His genius was so identical to her own, she was never surprised by his next decision. Which left her feeling as if she were watching herself move through trials she long ago completed.


    Arson on the other hand, was currently in the middle of fighting two skilled fighters. One who had him in a rear naked choke, while the other pummeled him in the ribs with devastating punches and kicks.


    Promethia¡¯s hair rustled in the breeze of her current altitude in Endless. The majestic sensation of the warm air brushing across her face made her smile as she took in the young Cultivators eyes.


    Who am I kidding, you¡¯d die in that bloody cage before you¡¯d tap¡­


    Arson smiled, and Promethia felt bad for his opponents, knowing the calculating Godling was plotting nothing less than revenge and bone breaking carnage.


    She glanced at the adjacent screen, and shook her head. Symphony stood amongst his siblings in the Skyscraper of Survival within Endless. The group was developing a new weapon to break down the walls of a Kingdom they were on the verge of besieging.


    The testing of the prototype that the young Godling had used to storm a keep had worked flawlessly, leaving Promethia waiting to see the end results of the weapon¡¯s completion. The prototype only working on a small scale, while the finished product would need to be used on a scale that some would deem impossible.


    As far as the difficulty of that in particular skyscraper, it was in some portions easier than the Runic skyscraper Arson had entered, and at other points far more fearsome.


    Promethia looked away from both screams and out toward the view considered to be what the heavens themselves were made to emulate. The countless skyscrapers meant to train the strongest powers born across all existences flickering the light cast by Endless¡¯s 21 suns. The structures all moving as the trials offered within the aspects of reality shifted in scale and measure, appearing to move like the tides of oceans in the distance, stealing Promethia¡¯s attention until a roar was heard¡¯ her head snapping back toward Arson¡¯s scream as the Cultivator made his move.


    ¡°Ahhh!¡±


    ¡­


    Arson roared in the face of the young woman punching him, causing her to jerk back just enough for him to move. He leaned forward slightly, creating a gap between the head of the man choking him, and his own. In an incredibly quick movement, he smashed his head backward, while jumping.


    In one smooth motion, he wrapped his legs around the neck of the woman before him, while grabbing the arms of the man whose grip loosened as blood sprayed from his nose.


    Not wanting to fall, Arson gripped the man¡¯s arms, yanking the man forward, pulling the man down as he rotated his hips.


    In a mere blink, Arson contorted himself, wrapping his own arms around the man¡¯s neck; angling himself above the man to choke both him and the woman who¡¯d just been viciously attacking him.


    Both of his opponents squirmed in his grip, dropping to their knees in the same moment, Arson squeezed the muscles of his arms and his legs as much as possible. The crowd erupted as the cameras showed the purpling faces of the pair that had just attempted to get Arson out the way, as he had been in the ring the longest, and all new entries normally did their best to get rid of the longest standing fighter in the cage to increase the odds of their own victory.


    The tactic was sound, as normally the fighter that managed to stay in the cage the longest was the most skilled fighter. His title triggering and taking away his ability to use mana and skills also gave his opponents the upper hand. Yet for Arson, the scars of his past were bubbling just beneath the surface.


    Memories of times before his cores. Times when he hadn¡¯t been taught to throw a punch or kick. Only to still be thrown into a cage, and forced to fight equally abused children. He hadn¡¯t given in when he¡¯d been unequipped and unsuited for the fight he¡¯d been thrusted into. Nor would he now as he actively decided to face his inner demons.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been forced to use the bodies of demons as pillows, and been blanketed in their blood in realms without suns, this¡­ is a place of entertainment, don¡¯t force me to take this any further, just give in,¡± whispered Arson just loud enough for both of his opponents to hear him. The pair shared a look at his words, both of their faces falling even further than their breathless bodies had been but a blink before Arson had spoken.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    The pair tapped simultaneously, and Arson pushed off of both just enough to return to his feet without touching the ground, glancing at both as he landed. He shook his head at their fearful gazes; each of them temporarily frozen as he made eye contact with them before they both scrambled free of the cage.


    ¡°Carter Gestalt is stretching his lead even further folks,¡± screamed Bobby the announcer. Arson had been surprised that he¡¯d been given the same announcer for a different event, until the announcer himself had informed the crowd that he¡¯d chosen to work the event after hearing that Arson was participating.


    ¡°At this rate, folks, I believe that without a doubt we will have a new record holder!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in here getting my rear handed to me, Bobby, don¡¯t hype them up, you¡¯re just making things worse for me in here!¡±


    Cackling laughter came from the announcers booth within the large nightclub, and Arson couldn¡¯t help but smirk at Bobby¡¯s response.


    ¡°Yeah yeah, tell that to the last 70 people that lost to you kid!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°You know what Arson wanted to meet up for?¡± asked Xani, walking into the conference room where Troy and Khalif waited for the rest of the Builders of Godhood.


    Xani and the others loved this space, not that it was more or less comfortable than Jade¡¯s villa, but was perfectly suited to fit their needs while they were in RaidCorp Coliseum on vacation.


    Even the conference room¡¯s walls were painted with majestic murals. The cotton floors were runically charged to fluff themselves after every step taken upon them. As well as the large pleasant water fountains and aquariums that burbled in nearly every room brought a comfort that their guild found rewarding all by itself.


    Xani took in the room¡¯s features as she strolled to one of the many open chairs. Every seat as lavish and plush as its companions, all lining the incredible station table that was framed in an intricately carved char blackened wood.


    Khalif sat upright as always, his eyes glued to the wall screen. Arson¡¯s event extending toward those in the room as if they were in the cage with him.


    ¡°What, he is still in there?¡± asked Xani, receiving a nod from Khalif, while Troy leaned back further in the comfortable office chair she sat in, kicking her feet up onto the long wooden conference table before answering Xani¡¯s previous question. Troy¡¯s crossed-arm position as familiar to Xani as Khalif¡¯s straightened pillar of a spine; both young women sharing knowing smiles as they spoke.


    ¡°No, but Arson will be late, I assume,¡± said Troy, gesturing toward the screen that showed Arson fighting a multitude of opponents inside a large cage. Xani¡¯s eyes went wide at the incredible reversal Arson had just pulled off, and Troy chuckled.


    ¡°That dude¡¯s nose is never going to be the same,¡± said Xani with a sigh, taking a seat and pulling out her flatscreen tablet to read.


    ¡°Yeah, I know, it¡¯s scary, right? I thought things were bad when he was talented, short, and scatterbrained, now he¡¯s tall, smart and deadly, don¡¯t know which version I like more,¡± said Troy with an accompanied chuckle.


    ¡°Let¡¯s be honest, Troy, he¡¯s still scatterbrained, but you know this more focused version has you completely enamored,¡± said Khalif, before he jumped to his feet.


    ¡°Kill ¡®em, little buddy, break his sparking neck!¡±


    The room went silent, and Khalif looked back to see Troy and Xani looking at him wide eyed.


    ¡°My bad¡­¡±


    Khalif sat down, fixing the buttons of his suit¡¯s jacket. The entire room now silently watching their leader as he choked two opponents at one time.


    ¡°How bad do you think you and Troy would do in a fight against him,¡± came from the doorway. Everyone turned to see Rob enter the room, looking at Khalif as he took a seat.


    ¡°With or without him using mana?¡±


    ¡°Without.¡±


    ¡°Probably worse than if he used mana, but neither situation would end well for us.¡±


    Rob looked at Troy and Xani.


    ¡°You two agree?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, with mana he could more than likely take us both out rather quickly and without causing any pain, but without, we¡¯d be able to push him, and that may result in lots of blood and broken bones if he was truly trying to win, that is,¡± explained Troy.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± added Xani.


    ¡°With how much mana it took to charge this block, Arson could probably take on all of us and his siblings without breaking a sweat with the use of mana,¡± said Xani, looking at a flatscreen tablet in her hands, long ago growing bored of watching her friend fight. She¡¯d watched the first fifty or so encounters in the cage, but after that many wins, she grew bored.


    ¡°Hmmm, not going to lie guys, this is going to be harder to get used to than I thought,¡± said Rob.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± said everyone else in the room at the same time. All there battled their own feelings about the changes to Arson in their own ways.


    Troy, felt odd about her attraction to his now tall smart and deadly as she¡¯d described him. Xani was frustrated that she¡¯d struggled to keep up with his mind when he¡¯d been far younger, only to be dazzled by the books he¡¯d collected for her to read while in Endless. Books she was coming to realize he¡¯d long ago read through and now found to be trivial concepts of science and magic; which made her feel as if she was playing catch up, rather than growing alongside her peers.


    Rob had learned a lot from Jade while Arson was gone, but had noticed that Arson¡¯s joy for cooking had somehow been tainted. Even his love of food had dwindled, and Rob didn¡¯t know if he was imagining things, but it often seemed like Arson forgot to eat, his stomach grumblings loud enough for everyone around him to notice, while Arson often looked down at his own stomach in confusion.


    None of these small changes mattered to Khalif, but what was absolutely apparent to the former Scapegrace leader, was that Arson¡¯s every movement was now silent. His presence when he wasn¡¯t using mana was completely undistinguished to any senses magical or mortal, and to top matters of change with a nice cherry, Arson was in fact deadly.


    Khalif could see the same look in Arson¡¯s eyes that he¡¯d only seen in the eyes of trained killers. Cultivators whose killing intent was powerful enough to become tangible. The metaphysical energy of his will so ferocious and deep that his will itself could suppress, suffocate, and kill even. All by itself.


    There were moments where Khalif thought everything was in his mind, only to see Arson¡¯s gaze shift in ways that made Khalif aware that he¡¯d missed potential danger. Danger that Arson himself had not, no, could not, let slip by unnoticed.


    This above all else made Khalif want to hone his skills in a way that made his blood boil. Thinking back on the majority of his life, all of his greatest triumphs were the result of not his own desire to become better, but a sensation of unyielding envy that drove him to want to be better than those around him. Not in any category, but more in the regard of his own talents and chosen skillsets.


    Arson by far was one of the individuals that had pushed that envy to new heights. Many around him were capable of enormous achievements, but most if not all of those people in his life at least, had one thing in common. Sovereign Arson Omni.


    Watching Arson fight in that moment showed all gathered, just how far their leader had come. His journey and time away came with many secrets, but the Builders of Godhood somehow knew that all of those secrets would come to light, and even in an appropriate time if their revealing was driven forward by Arson¡¯s very own decisions.


    The station table rang, and Xani looked up to see a picture of Jasmine beside a picture of Lane. She looked over to Troy; her friend giving her a nod of confirmation to answer the call.


    ¡°Hey you two, what¡¯s going on?¡± answered Xani after she waved her hand through the air to answer the pair.


    The living space that the duo was occupying on a higher floor was seen by Troy and the others for the first time as it materialized before them all. A hologram of the entire space stretched across the end of the table, allowing all in the conference room to face the young women sharing a couch. Rob tore his eyes away from the screen displaying Arson long enough to wave at Jasmine and Lane, taking a seat in another chair.


    ¡°You guys seeing this?¡± asked Lane. The sound of the cage match echoed slightly between the holo-call and the wall screen the rest of the builders watched. Silence following for a moment before all those in the conference room spoke at once.


    ¡°Duh,¡± said Khalif.


    ¡°Always,¡± said Troy.


    ¡°Trying to take my eyes off it,¡± muttered Rob, taking out his alchemy kit piece by piece to begin working on potions at the conference table.


    ¡°Nope, I¡¯m over it,¡± said Xani, glancing at her friends on call with a shake of the head as she rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Does he really expect me not to use this content, we¡¯d make a killing on this footage for the app,¡± said Lane.


    ¡°I say you use it and then ask for permission, girl,¡± said Jasmine.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± said Troy with a smirk.


    ¡°Noted, def going to try and make a page for him and Micro as some sort of profile introduction as new members of the BHC on all the Holo-web social media platforms, add a crap load of clips and watch the numbers roll in,¡± murmured Lane as she peeled her eyes away from the screen in front of her and started her work on her flatscreen.


    ¡°Micro too, what¡¯s she doing that you need to make an entire page for her too?¡± asked Troy, taking her feet off the table, and sitting up straight. Every bit of her casual and relaxed posture gone at the briefest mention of Micro.


    ¡°You guys haven¡¯t seen the highlights of her event?¡± asked Jasmine. Troy looked around at the others in the room, receiving nothing but blank stares of confusion and shaken heads as responses before she looked back at Lane and Jasmine.


    ¡°What event?¡± asked Troy before all the flatscreens in the room rang with a link before Troy could even finish speaking.


    ¡°Yo, Khalif, split the wall, I wanna see this¡­¡±