《Skill Harvester》 Chapter 1: Potential For Greatness The wooden counter was worn smooth from years of use, and Jennifer¡¯s fingers drummed against it as she waited for the next customer to approach. The shop was quiet today, the air thick with the smell of herbs and aged wood. A flickering lantern overhead cast long shadows across the room, though it did little to ease the gloom of her mood. ¡°Four silver,¡± she said flatly, placing a small bundle of dried sage onto the counter. The customer, a middle-aged man with a scowl etched into his face, sneered. ¡°Four? You¡¯ve raised the price again. This is daylight robbery!¡± Jennifer forced a polite smile. ¡°I just sell it. Take it up with the owner.¡± He grumbled under his breath, tossing a handful of coins onto the counter. Jennifer counted them quickly, her motions mechanical, her mind elsewhere. She hated this job. The endless parade of rude customers, the dull repetition, the way it all made her feel like a cog in a never-ending machine. She couldn¡¯t help but feel trapped, as though this tiny shop were a cage with no way out. As the man left, muttering curses, Jennifer felt it again¡ªthat faint, odd sensation on her back. It started as a warmth, barely noticeable, like sunlight through a thin curtain. But as she served the next customer, the heat grew stronger, turning into a sharp, almost burning sensation. ¡°Miss? Are you alright?¡± the woman across the counter asked, her brow furrowed. Jennifer blinked, realizing she¡¯d been standing still, clutching the edge of the counter. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said quickly, her voice tight. ¡°Just a bit tired.¡± But she wasn¡¯t fine. The heat was spreading now, crawling along her spine like a wildfire. She finished the transaction as quickly as she could and turned to her coworker, a younger girl named Marta who was stocking jars of honey nearby. ¡°I need to step out,¡± Jennifer said, her voice clipped. Without waiting for a reply, she hurried toward the back of the shop, ignoring the curious looks from customers. The small, dimly lit bathroom felt stifling as Jennifer slammed the door shut behind her. Two apprentices, chatting by the sink, turned to look at her in surprise. ¡°Out,¡± Jennifer said, her voice trembling. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± one of them asked, frowning. ¡°You look¡ª¡± ¡°I said, out!¡± Jennifer snapped, clutching at her back as a fresh wave of pain coursed through her. Her tone left no room for argument. The apprentices exchanged uneasy glances before shuffling out of the room, the door creaking shut behind them. Alone at last, Jennifer leaned against the sink, panting. The heat was unbearable now, like molten metal pressed against her skin. Desperate, she ripped off her shirt, the fabric tearing slightly in her haste. Turning her back to the mirror, she craned her neck to look over her shoulder.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Her breath caught. There, glowing faintly in the flickering light, was a mark. It shimmered like molten gold, its edges twisting and curling into the shape of a key. The intricate design seemed almost alive, pulsing softly against her skin. Jennifer stared, her mind racing. She¡¯d heard the stories. Everyone had. People who found marks like these were chosen, their lives irrevocably changed. Each mark granted a skill, a power¡ªbut it also came with a cost. Those marked were no longer ordinary citizens. They were guardians against the monsters that plagued the land. Most saw it as a curse, a burden they couldn¡¯t escape. Jennifer didn¡¯t feel burdened. Not at all. She stared at the glowing mark in the mirror, her mind a swirling storm of thoughts. The pain in her back subsided into a steady, soothing warmth, she found herself rooted in place, unable to tear her gaze away. Her fingers hesitated before reaching back to trace the intricate design, a shiver running down her spine as she felt its heat. Minutes passed in silence, the faint flicker of the lantern above casting shifting shadows across the bathroom walls. Her thoughts slowed, each one clearer than the last: no more rude customers, no more endless hours spent stocking shelves, no more feeling like her life was slipping through her fingers. The realization struck her fully, and she let out a sharp, shaky breath. The quiet stretched until, at last, Jennifer laughed¡ªa soft, disbelieving sound at first, bubbling up into something louder, freer. She clutched the edge of the sink for balance as the laughter turned to sobs, tears streaming down her face. Her knees gave out, and she sank to the cold stone floor, her shoulders trembling as relief and joy swept over her. ¡°I¡¯m free,¡± she whispered through her tears, the words barely audible. She pressed her hand against her back again, feeling the mark¡¯s faint pulse beneath her skin. "I don¡¯t have to stay here. I don¡¯t have to waste my life in this gods-forsaken shop." The room fell silent again, save for her ragged breathing. Slowly, she wiped her face with the back of her hand and pushed herself upright. Turning to the mirror, she stared at her reflection. Wild-eyed and disheveled, yes¡ªbut there was something new in her gaze, a spark of determination she hadn¡¯t felt in years. Jennifer remembered the stories from those marked. There was something she had to do now. ¡°Show me my skill,¡± she said aloud, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. The mirror burned. Fiery letters etched themselves across the glass, glowing with an intensity that made her squint. When the flames subsided, the words remained: Skill Harvester. Jennifer stared at the words, her chest heaving. Skill Harvester. The meaning seemed obvious¡ªtoo obvious. Could it mean she could grow skills over time, nurturing them like a gardener tending to seeds? Or was it something darker? Could it mean taking skills from others? The idea sent a shiver down her spine, though whether it was from fear or excitement, she couldn¡¯t tell. It didn¡¯t matter. She¡¯d find out soon enough. Jennifer grabbed her torn shirt, draping it around her shoulders as best she could. The bathroom door creaked open, revealing Marta and another coworker, their faces pale with concern. ¡°Jennifer,¡± she said hesitantly, ¡°what¡¯s going on? Are you¡ª¡± ¡°Sorry for the shouting... But today is my last day. I quit,¡± Jennifer said, cutting her off. Her voice was firm, with an edge of finality that startled even herself. Without waiting for a response, she brushed past them, stepping out into the shop. The air was cool against her skin, and she could feel the eyes of her coworkers and the customers following her as she crossed the room. A few murmurs rose, but she didn¡¯t care. It was all behind her now. When she pushed the door open, a rush of cold rain greeted her. Fat droplets splattered against the cobblestone streets, drenching her within moments. Jennifer pulled her shirt tighter around herself, but the chill barely registered. Her steps quickened as she made her way toward the center of the town. There, nestled between the market square and the smithy, was a building she¡¯d only ever seen from a distance: the Monster Slayer Hall. Chapter 2: Hub Jennifer adjusted the frayed cloth draped across her chest as she walked through the bustling streets toward the Monster Slayer Hub. The massive, towering structure dominated the skyline, its slim, gleaming rod piercing the heavens like a beacon. Her bare shoulders and disheveled appearance drew stares from passersby. Murmurs followed her, but she kept her gaze forward, pretending not to notice. Near a lively market stall, she paused. The vendor eyed her as she picked up a plain, slightly oversized shirt. ¡°How much?¡± Jennifer asked, her tone clipped. ¡°Two bronze coins,¡± the vendor replied. Without a word, she dug into her pouch, dropped the coins into his outstretched hand, and slipped the shirt on over her head. It wasn¡¯t stylish, but it covered her properly. She muttered a quick ¡°thanks¡± and moved on. The stairs leading to the Hub¡¯s entrance seemed endless. At the top, two guards loomed like statues, their seven-foot frames clad in glinting armor. Their halberds crossed, barring her path as she approached the closed double doors. ¡°What do you want?¡± one of them growled, his voice a low rumble. Jennifer straightened her back. ¡°I want to be a Monster Slayer. I have the mark.¡± She hesitated, searching her memory. ¡°The¡­ key to eternity,¡± she finished, hoping that was the right term. The guard on the right stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable beneath his helmet. Then, without a word, he pushed one of the massive doors open with a groan of metal and wood. Jennifer blinked, taken aback. ¡°You¡¯re not¡­ going to want proof?¡± she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. The guard shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t care.¡± She hesitated briefly, then stepped inside. The doors creaked shut behind her, sealing her in an expansive, dimly lit room. As she walked, rows of lights flickered to life overhead, illuminating a cavernous space filled with scattered chairs and couches. Despite its imposing exterior, the interior felt more like an abandoned lounge than a prestigious hub. From a side doorway, another guard approached, his gait measured and deliberate. ¡°Sit and wait,¡± he instructed. ¡°A tester will see you soon.¡± Jennifer nodded and found a seat on one of the couches. The cushion sank beneath her weight as she scanned the room. Minutes passed in silence before a woman emerged from a central doorway. She was dressed in a sharp, modern outfit with a steampunk-like tablet in hand, gears visibly clicking as she tapped on its screen. ¡°Proof?¡± the woman asked curtly as she stopped in front of Jennifer. Jennifer stood, turned her back to the woman, and lifted her shirt to reveal the intricate mark, shaped as a very weird key etched onto her skin. The woman¡¯s eyes narrowed.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Make it glow,¡± she demanded. Jennifer froze. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Focus on it. Just think about it. Concentrate.¡± Taking a deep breath, Jennifer closed her eyes and concentrated. At first, nothing happened. Then, a faint warmth spread across her back, and the mark began to emit a soft, golden light. The woman nodded approvingly. ¡°Legit.¡± Jennifer lowered her shirt as the woman took a seat opposite her. She gestured for Jennifer to do the same. ¡°Name?¡± the woman asked, her tone casual. ¡°Jennifer. You?¡± ¡°Marcy,¡± the woman replied with a faint smile. She leaned back, her eyes scanning Jennifer¡¯s face. ¡°Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?¡± Jennifer hesitated. ¡°This city, Reyudan,¡± she admitted. ¡°I live by myself, and have been doing so for the past four years, since I was sixteen. Been surviving how I know how to. Don''t have anyone else to rely on, so..." Jennifer shrugs. Marcy nodded, her expression sympathetic but not prying. ¡°Why do you want to become a Monster Slayer?¡± Jennifer¡¯s gaze dropped to her hands. ¡°I want more out of life. My old job was¡­ repetitive. People treated me like trash. Like I was nothing. I¡­ I want to be something. Do something special.¡± Marcy regarded her for a moment before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small card. She slid it across the table. ¡°This is your progression card,¡± Marcy explained. ¡°You¡¯ll need to prove your worth. Bring me the heads of ten sharp-claw lizards, and you¡¯ll earn your place here. We call them Gatekeepers.¡± Jennifer took the card, her fingers tightening around it. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Marcy stood, gesturing for Jennifer to follow. ¡°Let¡¯s get you geared up.¡± They walked toward another doorway, the faint hum of machinery growing louder as they approached. Marcy stood, gesturing for Jennifer to follow. ¡°Let¡¯s get you geared up. No point in sending you out there unprepared.¡± They walked toward another doorway, the faint hum of machinery growing louder as they approached. ¡°Do I have to do this alone?¡± Jennifer asked, her voice tinged with nervousness. Marcy glanced at her. ¡°No. Someone just became a Slayer today. I¡¯ll contact them. They¡¯ll give you the basics and help you get started.¡± Jennifer frowned slightly. ¡°What¡¯s their name?¡± ¡°Damon,¡± Marcy replied. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ well, let¡¯s just say he¡¯s a little rough around the edges. But he knows his stuff.¡± Marcy led Jennifer down a corridor lined with glowing panels embedded into the walls. They approached a heavy steel door marked with the words "Armory." Marcy pressed a button, and the door slid open with a hiss, revealing a vast room filled with racks of weapons and armor. At the far end, behind a counter cluttered with tools and scraps of leather, stood an old man hunched over a piece of armor. ¡°Aercu!¡± Marcy called out, her voice cutting through the low buzz of the machinery. The old man looked up, his face weathered but sharp, and a crooked smile spread across his lips. ¡°Marcy! Bringing me another recruit, are you?¡± ¡°Jennifer,¡± Marcy introduced, gesturing to her. ¡°She needs gear. Help her figure out what suits her.¡± Mercu shuffled out from behind the counter, wiping his hands on a grease-stained cloth. His sharp eyes scanned Jennifer from head to toe. ¡°Alright then, what kind of fighting style are you interested in? Heavy armor for defense? Or something light? And weapon preference? Long-distance like a bow? Close-long like a spear? Mid-close like a sword? Or short-close?¡± Jennifer¡¯s gaze drifted to the shelves lining the room. She paused, her eyes settling on a pair of sleek gauntlets displayed on a pedestal. ¡°Something light,¡± she said, her voice steady. ¡°And¡­ gauntlets.¡± Aercu raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism. ¡°Gauntlets? You have experience with those?¡± Jennifer hesitated, then shook her head. ¡°Not really. I just¡­ I want to kill things with my hands.¡± Aercu blinked, taken aback by her bluntness. Then, after a moment, he chuckled, a raspy sound that echoed in the room. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a first. Most people want to keep their distance. Alright, let¡¯s see what I¡¯ve got.¡± He disappeared into the back room, his muttering barely audible over the hum of the machinery. When he returned, he carried a pair of gauntlets made of dark, reinforced leather with metallic plating along the knuckles. ¡°These should do the trick,¡± he said, handing them over. ¡°Lightweight, but they pack a punch. Try them on.¡± Jennifer slipped them on, flexing her fingers. The fit was snug but comfortable. Chapter 3: A Gate Jennifer tightened the straps on her light leather armor, running her fingers over the iron reinforcements covering the vital areas of her chest, groin, neck, and shoulders. The gauntlets¡ªdark leather with iron plating on the knuckles¡ªfit snugly, their weight almost negligible, yet reassuring. Satisfied, she turned to leave the armory room. As the door creaked open, Marcy¡¯s voice called from outside. ¡°Well, don¡¯t you look the part,¡± Marcy said, her arms crossed as she leaned casually against the wall. Jennifer stepped through the doorway, giving her armor one final adjustment. ¡°Feels... different. But it¡¯ll work.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll have to,¡± Marcy replied with a faint smirk, holding out a folded map and a reinforced leather bag. ¡°Here. You¡¯re going to need these.¡± Jennifer took the items, unfolding the map first. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Map of the country,¡± Marcy explained, tapping the paper with her finger. ¡°Those circles? Gates. The darker the shade, the worse the danger. And trust me, you¡¯re not ready for the dark ones.¡± Jennifer¡¯s eyes lingered on the map, her gaze locking on the blue circle a short distance away from the city. ¡°This one is the weakest? I''m guessing it has the lizards?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Marcy said, her tone skeptical. ¡°It should be manageable for you. Just don¡¯t get cocky. A ¡®blue gate¡¯ can still kill you if you¡¯re careless.¡± Jennifer folded the map and tucked it into the bag, glancing at the sturdy leather and the iron-lined drawstring. ¡°And this? What¡¯s it for?¡± ¡°Lizard heads,¡± Marcy said. "That¡¯s what you¡¯re bringing back as proof.¡± Jennifer slung the bag over her shoulder, her expression neutral. ¡°It expands I''m guessing.¡± Marcy chuckled. ¡°Yes.¡± "Got it." Jennifer moved toward the exit, but Marcy¡¯s voice stopped her. ¡°Hey,¡± she said, her tone serious now. ¡°You¡¯ve got the gear, and you¡¯ve got the map, but don¡¯t think that makes you invincible.¡± Jennifer glanced over her shoulder. ¡°Don''t worry. I¡¯m not an idiot.¡± ¡°Good. Because idiots don¡¯t last long out there.¡± Jennifer gave her a curt nod and pushed open the door. The crisp air hit her face as she stepped outside, the sound of the door clanging shut echoing behind her. ¡°Time to get started,¡± she muttered, folding the map and tucking it away. Stepping outside, Jennifer scanned the active street. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows against the weathered stone buildings. She found a spot near the corner of the monster slayer building, leaning back against the cool wall, arms crossed. The first few minutes passed uneventfully. She fiddled with the straps of her bag, checked the gauntlets on her hands, and adjusted her armor. Across the street, a pair of workers loaded crates into a rickety cart, their laughter carrying faintly on the breeze.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Jennifer¡¯s gaze drifted up to the sky, watching as thin clouds crawled lazily across the horizon. The sun dipped lower, and the air grew cooler. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her patience beginning to fray. Thirty minutes. Still no sign of anyone. Jennifer kicked a loose stone, watching it tumble across the stairs before settling in a crack. ¡°Screw this,¡± she muttered, her voice cutting through the silence. Jennifer tightened the bag¡¯s strap across her shoulder and pushed herself off the wall. If her supposed partner couldn¡¯t bother to show up, then she¡¯d do this on her own. Back at her apartment, Jennifer pushed open the heavy wooden door, its iron hinges groaning as if protesting her return. The small space greeted her with its familiar chill, the faint scent of damp wood and lingering ash from the communal fireplace below filling the air. She hung her cloak on the hook by the door and crossed the room to the corner where her weathered chest rested. Kneeling, she ran her hand over the iron-bound lid before flipping it open. Beneath a layer of folded cloth, a leather pouch sat tucked away. She untied it, counting the coins within. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªjust enough to cover immediate expenses. She tied the pouch to her belt, grabbed her cloak again, and fastened it snugly. Without sparing a glance back, she stepped into the corridor, her boots echoing faintly as she left the house. She made her way towards the transportation center. Drivers stood by their vehicles¡ªsome horse-drawn, others motorized¡ªshouting their destinations to passersby. Jennifer¡¯s eyes scanned the rows of vehicles until they landed on a battered open-air carriage at the edge of the square. The iron plating on its sides bore scratches and dents. The driver leaned lazily against the carriage, a pipe clenched between his teeth. He eyed her approach with casual indifference, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. ¡°The nearest blue gate,¡± she said simply, coming to a stop a few feet away. The driver raised an eyebrow, removing the pipe from his mouth. ¡°By yourself?¡± ¡°How much?¡± Jennifer asked, ignoring his tone. He shrugged, sizing her up. ¡°Sixty. Hazard pay.¡± *Fucking ridicoulous.* ¡°Forty,¡± she countered. ¡°Fifty, and I¡¯m not waiting around if you don¡¯t come back,¡± he said, his smirk deepening. ¡°Fine.¡± He straightened, tossing his pipe into a brazier nearby. ¡°Climb in.¡± Jennifer stepped into the carriage, the leather seat creaking under her weight. Soon after the carriage started moving. The city quickly faded behind them, giving way to endless stretches of cracked earth. The soil was dry and brittle, the jagged lines running across it like veins of a lifeless corpse. Sparse tufts of withered grass clung to the cracks, their pale yellow color a stark contrast to the dull, ashen grey of the ground. Occasionally, stunted shrubs, gnarled and leafless, jutted from the earth like skeletal fingers reaching toward the sky. Jennifer leaned back, her fingers absently brushing each other as the landscape grew bleaker with every passing mile. There was jagged shadows over the fractured terrain. What little life there was seemed muted and struggling, as though the land itself was suffocating under some unseen weight. ¡°You see that?¡± the driver said, breaking the silence. He nodded toward the horizon, where the world seemed to twist unnaturally. Jennifer squinted, spotting the faint outline of the gate region. The ground ahead shifted in color to a deeper, more lifeless blue. Tiny shimmering particles floated upward, glinting faintly like embers escaping from unseen fires. The air seemed to ripple there, as though reality itself was bending and straining. ¡°This is as far as I go,¡± the driver said as he pulled the carriage to a stop. ¡°You want me to wait? It¡¯ll cost you sixty an hour.¡± Jennifer climbed down, the dry soil crunching beneath her boots. ¡°No need,¡± she said, adjusting the strap of her bag. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± The driver gave her a brief nod before turning the carriage around. She stood there for a moment, taking in the sight before her. The boundary between the normal world and the gate land was almost tangible, a line where the air seemed to shift. Reaching out, she brushed her fingers through the invisible divide. One side felt warm and gritty; the other was cool and smooth, like glass. Jennifer took a steadying breath and stepped forward. The chill hit her immediately, wrapping around her like a vice. The air carried a faint metallic tang, sharp and unnatural. She turned back briefly, seeing the normal landscape behind her, warm and familiar. Ahead, the terrain stretched endlessly, surreal and otherworldly. Bubbles of green liquid floated just above the ground, casting warped reflections that twisted and shimmered in the pale light. Chapter 4: Harvest She walked forward, her steps crunching softly against the ground. Red sand stretched out before her in uneven patches. Jennifer stopped and crouched down, running her fingers through the sand. It felt cold against her skin, almost like fine, powdered ice. She scooped up a handful, letting it sift through her fingers. The grains sparkled faintly in the light as they fell back to the ground. She stood and kicked at a small pile of sand, scattering it across the path. She stopped for a moment, squared her stance, and threw a punch into the air. It was wild, her fist veering slightly off course. She followed it with a quick jab from her left hand, then a swing from her right, but her balance wavered, and she nearly stumbled. ¡°Ugh,¡± she muttered, shaking her hands out. She rolled her shoulders and tried again. A jab, another jab, then a wide hook. Her punches lacked power and precision, her form loose and uncoordinated. Still, she kept at it, her movements growing slightly more focused. She imagined herself in a fight, ducking under an invisible opponent¡¯s swing, then countering with an uppercut. Her imagination carried her for a few moments until she overextended on a punch, throwing herself off balance again. Jennifer straightened, huffing in annoyance. She was starting to regret her decision. "I should¡¯ve picked a sword or something," she muttered, throwing another awkward jab. "At least a dagger looks cool when you¡¯re bad at using it. Gauntlets just... make you look dumb." A floating water bubble drifted nearby and popped on a jagged rock, splattering harmlessly. She paused for a moment, watching another bubble drift lazily past her. This world was strange, unpredictable. But the strangeness wasn¡¯t enough to distract her from her irritation with herself. She resumed her boxing, landing a wild swing that nearly threw her off balance. "Whatever," she said aloud. "Gauntlets are cool. I¡¯ll make them cool." She walked a bit further, distracted by her own grumbling, when a strange sound drew her attention. It was wet, like the slap of mud against itself, accompanied by a faint sucking noise. Jennifer stopped and turned. A strange, yellow slug slithered out from behind a rock. It was about the size of a small dog, glistening under the light, with dark ridges along its back and antennae that waved lazily in the air. "Gross," Jennifer muttered. The slug didn¡¯t seem to care for her commentary. It surged forward with a sudden lurch, aiming right for her. Startled, she jumped back, barely avoiding its charge. It wasn¡¯t fast¡ªnot really¡ªbut it was persistent. It lunged again, and she sidestepped, watching it skid slightly on the slick ground. The slug let out a wet gurgling sound before spitting a glob of goo her way. Jennifer flinched as the goo splattered against the ground near her. She sidestepped again, but a second glob hit her boot, rooting her foot to the ground.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. "Seriously?" she growled, yanking her leg. The goo stretched but didn¡¯t break. The slug saw its opening and barreled forward, slamming into her chest like a squishy battering ram. Jennifer stumbled back, landing hard on the ground. "Alright," she snapped, scrambling to her knees. The slug lunged again, its antennae wriggling, but Jennifer managed to twist aside. She swung a fist, connecting with its side. To her surprise, the impact sent a ripple through its gelatinous body, leaving a faint indentation. "Ha!" She grinned. "Gauntlets for the win!" The slug shuddered, its body rippled as Jennifer¡¯s punch landed. It was weakened but still far from done. It lunged at her again, antennae twitching erratically. Jennifer barely sidestepped in time and lunged forward, grabbing hold of it. Wrestling the slippery creature was harder than she expected¡ªit squirmed and wriggled, its body strong in a way that didn¡¯t feel natural. "Just give up already!" she growled, struggling to keep her grip. As the slug thrashed in her arms, Jennifer focused on her skill. She hesitated, pressing her hand firmly against the slug¡¯s slimy surface. She closed her eyes, concentrating. _Come on. Do something._ At first, she felt nothing. Then, faintly, it was like her hands were brushing against something deep inside the slug¡ªa pulse or core, hidden beneath layers of resistance. She pushed harder, but the sensation kept slipping away, like water through her fingers. The slug spasmed violently, knocking her off balance and almost breaking her grip. ¡°It¡¯s fighting me,¡± she muttered through clenched teeth, her frustration mounting. Her instinct told her what she already suspected¡ªher skill wasn¡¯t going to work unless she brought the creature to the brink. Jennifer released the slug, letting it drop to the ground with a wet thud. It turned to attack again, sluggish but still dangerous. She dodged its slow lunge, stepping around it to deliver a sharp punch to its side. The creature rippled under the impact but kept moving. Jennifer followed up with another hit, and another, until it began to falter, its movements sluggish and erratic. When the slug finally collapsed, writhing weakly, Jennifer crouched down and placed her hand against its body again. This time, it was different. The resistance was gone. The faint pulse she had felt before came into focus, steady and clear. Her fingers brushed against something that felt solid yet fragile. She tugged. The sensation was strange¡ªlike pulling a string loose from a tangled knot¡ªbut her instincts told her it was working. The slug spasmed once, its body rippling violently, and then it went completely limp, its form collapsing in on itself. Jennifer stood, her breath coming fast. She looked down at the slug¡¯s remains. Then she felt it¡ªthat same tingle in her back, where the faint outline of the key-like mark rested beneath her shirt. Like something was stored there. She exhaled slowly, flexing her hands. The gauntlets felt different now¡ªheavier, more solid, almost alive. Jennifer clenched her fists, testing the weight. ¡°So that¡¯s how it works,¡± she murmured, looking at the mark of her first victory on the ground. The goo binding her boot had dissolved during the fight, leaving her free to stand fully. Jennifer straightened, brushing the dirt off her knees. She flexed her fingers again, feeling the lingering warmth in her back, and smirked. She focused on the slug¡¯s goo, recalling the way it had trapped her foot. Jennifer held up her hand, concentrating. At first, nothing happened. But then, a thick, red goo began to drip from her fingertips. She jerked her hand back, startled, but the substance didn¡¯t stop. It oozed slowly at first, then faster, pooling in her palm. "Gross," she muttered, suppressing a shudder. "But useful?" She pointed her hand forward, imagining the goo shooting out. A sharp hiss accompanied the surge of goo as it fired out, splattering against a nearby rock with surprising force. Jennifer blinked, then laughed. "Okay, that¡¯s kind of awesome." She wiped her hand on the edge of her shirt, grimacing at the residue. The goo seemed to dissolve after a few moments, leaving her hands clean again. Jennifer stared at them, flexing her fingers. "Gauntlets are cool," she said with a small grin. She glanced at the slug¡¯s remains one last time. "Now let¡¯s see what else I can do." Chapter 5: Ten Heads Jennifer brushed her hands off and looked toward the horizon. The strange red sand stretched endlessly, the faint breeze giving it a rippling, almost liquid-like appearance. The gauntlets on her hands felt heavier now, though it was an oddly satisfying weight¡ªa reminder of her recent fight. She flexed her fingers, small streaks of sticky goo still clinging to the tips, gleaming faintly under the alien sky. She glanced up, taking in the expanse above. The sky was a muted purple, with streaks of gold threading through clouds that seemed to drift in slow motion. Two suns hung low on the horizon, their combined glow casting long, sharp shadows across the jagged landscape. A flock of translucent, jellyfish-like creatures floated high above, their tentacles trailing iridescent light. Jennifer couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the surreal beauty of it all. "Alright, lizard brain," she muttered to herself, pulling her gaze back to the ground. "Time to see what else is out there." She moved deeper into the weird terrain, her boots crunching softly against the sand. The floating water bubbles she had seen earlier grew sparse, replaced by jagged rocks that jutted from the ground like the teeth of some enormous beast. She paused occasionally to examine the strange flora¡ªa wiry plant with spindly, glowing leaves; a cluster of bulbous fungi that released a faint, metallic chime when the wind passed through them. The air grew cooler the further she walked, and the faint hum she had noticed earlier became more pronounced. It wasn¡¯t just a sound¡ªit was a vibration, resonating through her bones and the gauntlets on her hands. She paused, kneeling to press her palm against the sand. The vibrations were stronger here, pulsing like a heartbeat. She straightened and continued, her senses on high alert. Each step revealed new wonders: a shallow crater filled with liquid silver that reflected the sky like a mirror, and a cluster of crystalline structures that emitted soft, rhythmic flashes of light. She ran her fingers along the smooth surface of one crystal, feeling the warmth it radiated. "This place is insane," she whispered, a mixture of awe and unease bubbling in her chest. Despite the mesmerizing sights, there was an underlying tension in the air, as though the landscape itself was alive and watching her. She shook the thought away and pressed on, her boots now crunching against a mixture of sand and fine gravel. The faint breeze carried with it a metallic tang, sharp and unfamiliar. She stopped again, this time at the top of a small dune. From here, she could see the terrain stretching out in all directions, each area marked by subtle but distinct changes in color and texture. To the east, a cluster of jagged spires loomed, their black surfaces glinting ominously. To the west, the red sand gave way to a shimmering blue expanse that seemed to ripple like water. Jennifer stood there for a long moment, taking it all in. Her heart pounded with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Whatever this world was, it was nothing like she had ever imagined¡ªand she had a feeling she was only scratching the surface of its mysteries. After a while, Jennifer spotted movement ahead. She crouched instinctively, watching as a lizard-like creature crept out from behind a rock. Its skin shimmered faintly, like molten copper, and its sharp claws clicked against the stone as it moved. It wasn¡¯t particularly large¡ªabout the size of a dog¡ªbut its sleek body and the glint of its claws made her wary. Jennifer clenched her fists, focusing on the goo. She aimed her palm at the lizard, concentrating until the sticky substance began to ooze from her fingers. With a sharp hiss, it fired out, splattering against the creature¡¯s side.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The lizard let out a sharp hiss of its own, startled, before whipping its head toward her. Its slitted eyes locked on Jennifer as it let out a low growl. "Uh-oh," she muttered, stepping back. The lizard charged, its claws kicking up sand as it closed the distance. Jennifer fired more goo in a panic, trying to slow it down, but she felt a tug deep in her chest, like something was being drained. The creature lunged, and Jennifer barely managed to sidestep. Its sharp claws raked across her neck, the impact glancing off the edge of her armor. She felt the sting of a shallow cut but didn¡¯t have time to focus on it. "That¡¯s enough out of you!" she growled, grabbing hold of the lizard¡¯s scaly body as it leaped again. They tumbled to the ground, Jennifer wrestling to keep its snapping jaws away from her face. She twisted her body, forcing the creature onto its back. The sticky goo from her gauntlets seeped out again, pinning the lizard to the ground. It thrashed wildly, its claws slashing at the air. Jennifer planted her knees on either side of it and began pummeling. Her fists struck hard against its tough hide, each punch rippling through her gauntlets. The lizard¡¯s struggles grew weaker until it lay still, its chest heaving. Jennifer leaned in, pressing her hand against its side, feeling for the pulse she had sensed earlier. It was there, faint but steady. She focused, pulling at the core until she felt it give. The lizard let out a final shudder, then went limp beneath her. Jennifer collapsed onto her back, panting. Her energy felt drained, her limbs heavy, but that familiar warmth had begun building in her back again. She sat up slowly, feeling the heat spread through her body like a second heartbeat. "Okay," she said, laughing breathlessly. "This... this is way better than being a cashier." She jumped to her feet, testing her body. Despite the fatigue, she felt stronger, more alive. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she shadowboxed for a moment, laughing at the rush. More coppery lizards scuttled into view, their scales glinting in the dim light. Jennifer¡¯s eyes narrowed. Jennifer¡¯s fingers twitched, a strange, unfamiliar pull running through her arms. Without thinking, she flexed her hands, and a sharp pain shot through her fingertips. She gritted her teeth as jagged claws sprouted. Mother fucker! That hurts. She flexed her hand, testing them. At least the pain went away immediately. A lizard darted toward her, snapping its jaws. She quickly swiped, her claws raking across its side, leaving deep cuts. The creature recoiled, but before she could fully prepare for the next strike, another came from her blind spot. Without thinking, she retracted her claws, feeling them click back into her hands. She balled her fists and delivered a quick punch, the solid metal of the gauntlet crushing into the lizard¡¯s skull. It was stunned. She waved her other hand, cutting into the lizards throat with her claws. Another lizard lunged, its teeth sinking into her side. Jennifer gasped, the pain flaring up as the creature bit down. In response, she swung her clawed arm around, gouging deep into its flesh before it released her. She staggered back, clutching her side, blood seeping from the wound. With a quick breath, she forced herself to retract the claws once more and pull her gauntlet back on, though the damage to it was now unmistakable. Each switch¡ªclaws to gauntlets and back again¡ªwas growing harder as exhaustion set in, but she fought through it. I can do this! By the time she faced the last lizard, her body was already screaming in protest. The strain of constant movement, the pressure of the fight¡ªit was all coming to a head. She rested on the ground for a while. Taking in deep breaths. Then her back burned fiercely, the energy building to an unbearable intensity. Her entire body glowed red for a moment, her muscles locking in place as the power surged through her. When it passed, she fell forward, gasping for air. Her body felt different¡ªlighter, stronger. She stood, testing her movements. She felt faster, like her reflexes had doubled. Jennifer reached back, touching the ''key of everything'' beneath her shirt. It was larger now. "Okay..." So I feel pain when I get stronger? I never heard of that before. She turned to the lizards she had defeated, pulling out a knife to take their heads. The process was gruesome and time-consuming, but she finished eventually, stuffing the heads into a bag. Chapter 6: ID Jennifer walked across the red sand, the dry ground shifting beneath her feet. After a while she reached the horizon, seeing the brown dry ground. She stepped over it, but as soon as she did the world around her spun, and before she could react, she was thrown forward. She landed hard on the ground. Her head spun as she pushed herself up, trying to steady herself. When her vision cleared, she saw a blue twister in the distance, twisting violently in the air, sending dust into the sky. Jennifer stood, breathing heavily, her mind racing. The twister was the same color of the gate area. Well, the gate area wasn''t visible anymore since the twister was over it. Gates were known for having twisters, pulling the unexpected into them. She assumed she had simply got lucky when she entered the gate without dealing with the gate twister. She swung the bad on her back and walked back to the city. There was something above the city that she usually ignored because of how normal it was to her. It was a floating white orb. Because gates appeared anywhere and at anytime, inventions were created to protect certain areas from becoming gate lands/areas. Jennifer made her way through the streets, passing familiar sights. The hub wasn¡¯t far now. She could already see the guards stationed near the entrance, their eyes scanning the crowd. Before she could reach the entrance, a man in light armor appeared, his footsteps quick and urgent on the gravel. He glanced at the guards first, his eyes darting around until they landed on her. ¡°Jennifer?¡± he asked, his voice laced with a hint of panic. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to meet a Jennifer.¡± Jennifer wiped some dust off her clothes, glancing up at him. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± He blinked in surprise, then let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Sorry for reaching late. I was dealing with some issues. Oh, my name is James by the way.¡± Jennifer nodded. ¡°Gotcha. Nice to meet you.¡± She lifted the bag, showing him it. "I already got done collecting some heads so I''m going to show it Marcy." "Right right." They entered the building together. The man was tall, his broad shoulders accentuated by the polished armor. He glanced over at her. ¡°So, where are you from?¡± "Here. Born and raised in this city." She paused, then added, "Raised here mostly." He gave a nod. ¡°I see. You ever travel outside the city?¡± Jennifer looked up, her expression unreadable. "No. You can say I never really had the chance." His gaze flickered toward her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. ¡°Must¡¯ve been... quiet, huh?¡± She let out a soft, humorless chuckle. "You could say that." The man nodded again, a slight frown on his face as if he didn¡¯t quite know what to say to that. The silence between them stretched for a moment, broken only by the hum of the building''s machinery.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°So, uh,¡± he began after a moment, trying to change the topic. ¡°What made you decide to join... all this?¡± "Wanted a more interesting life. Nothing deep." "I see I see..." Jennifer narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°And you? Why did you join?¡± ¡°Well I''m from a small village far from here,¡± he began, the words coming slowly, as though it wasn¡¯t something he liked to share. ¡°My brother, he¡¯s the one who pushed me into it. He¡¯s a slayer too.¡± Jennifer raised an eyebrow, her interest sharpening. "Oh?" ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s the reason I¡¯m here. He¡¯s... always been the one to push me to do things. To follow him.¡± His voice softened, and for a moment, Jennifer could see the weight in his eyes. "He believes in all this... the slaying, the fighting, the whole thing. I guess I didn¡¯t have a choice." Jennifer couldn¡¯t help but sense the underlying tension. ¡°That must be frustrating. Not having a choice in a life decision.¡± He let out a small, mirthless laugh. ¡°It is what it is.¡± The silence stretched again, thick with unspoken thoughts. Jennifer considered pressing him further, but something in his posture made her hold back. ¡°I get it,¡± she said softly. ¡°Sometimes life pushes you into things you never asked for.¡± Their conversation was interrupted when the door opened with a soft click. Marcy stepped in, clipboard in hand. She glanced up at Jennifer, her eyes quickly moving to the bag slung over her shoulder. She stopped in her tracks. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Marcy said under her breath, narrowing her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s impressive,¡± she muttered, taking a few steps forward. Her gaze was fixed on the bag, inspecting it like it was something alien. She reached out cautiously, her fingers hovering just above the opening of the bag before she glanced at Jennifer. Jennifer shifted the bag slightly, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Marcy didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, she opened the bag just enough to get a good look inside. Her eyes narrowed even further as she examined the sharp claw lizard heads. ¡°They¡¯re real,¡± she said, more to herself than anyone else. Her fingers lingered over the heads, as if feeling for any signs of trickery or mimicry. Satisfied, she finally pulled back, wiping her hands on her pants like the touch had left an impression. Jennifer, sensing the scrutiny, remained calm. ¡°What, you think they¡¯re fake?¡± ¡°No,¡± Marcy replied quickly, almost defensively. She straightened up and held up her clipboard, scribbling something down furiously. ¡°People tend to take longer.¡± Marcy handed over a ID to Jennifer. ¡°Here,¡± she said, her tone softer now. ¡°GrassQuartz. Lowest rank, but a start.¡± Jennifer took the ID, turning it over in her hands. It was an odd thing, its quartz-like surface shimmering in the light with hints of green and brown. It almost looked like it was made of plant material instead of stone. She slipped it around her neck, letting it hang in the center of her collarbone. James said, ¡°Let¡¯s get you checked out. Then we¡¯ll move on.¡± James led Jennifer to the medical area. A door slid open, revealing a small, no-frills medical room. It smelled faintly of antiseptic, the scent sharp and clean. A tall woman in a white coat stood at a counter. She looked up as they entered, giving a brief nod. "What do we have?" she asked, her tone flat but efficient. Jennifer said, "Cuts and bruises from a few beasts. My neck, arm, torso." The woman didn¡¯t waste any time. "Sit here," she instructed Jennifer, gesturing to the reclining chair that faced a series of medical instruments. Jennifer took a seat, removing her armor and lifted her shirt for her to see the torso wound. The woman cleaned and disinfected the wounds. Her touch was quick but practiced, applying salves and bandages where necessary. The sharp sting of the disinfectant made Jennifer wince, but she didn¡¯t react beyond that. ¡°Lucky you didn¡¯t take a deeper hit,¡± the woman remarked, peeling away a bloodied cloth from a scrape on Jennifer¡¯s side. ¡°That could have been worse.¡± "Yeah..." After a short while they were done. Jennifer stood, feeling the faint twinges of pain as she stretched her limbs. She could still feel the throb of the cuts, but it was bearable. "Thanks," she said, nodding at the woman. "Next time," the woman said as she began to clean her tools, "try not to get yourself torn apart by monsters." Jennifer gave a small, tired smile, her lips curling at the edge. "I¡¯ll keep that in mind." Jennifer left the hub along with James. He asked, ¡°So what exactly can you do? Your skill. I should probably go first. I can summon and control iron disks.¡± Jennifer opened her mouth to answer but stopped when a sudden pain shot through her back. She winced, her vision going blurry for a moment, and just as quickly, everything froze. Time snapped back to normal with a jarring whoosh. Jennifer¡¯s pulse raced in her throat, her heart pounding in her ears. She was still trying to make sense of what happened, but there was no time to dwell on it. She forced a smile, though it felt awkward, and raised her gooey hands. ¡°Uh, sticky blasts. I can do... sticky blasts.¡± Chapter 7: Spines Jennifer waited for his reaction to the explanation she¡¯d just given. James, however, barely glanced her way. ¡°I see... You must be clever,¡± he said, his tone neutral, ¡°figuring out how to take down sharp-claw lizards on your first try. I struggled with them a lot.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± she said lightly, though her eyes narrowed. He didn¡¯t look at her, studying the crumpled gate map in his hands instead. They walked to the transportation center. James moved toward a carriage, waving to the driver. Jennifer followed behind him. The driver, an older man with a frayed coat and a threadbare cap, leaned down from his perch as they approached. His grizzled face cracked into a half-smile. ¡°Where to?¡± James handed him the map, pointing to a marked location. ¡°We¡¯re heading here. You can take us as far as the outer ring of the gate fields.¡± The driver squinted at the map, then nodded. ¡°That¡¯s a decent ride. You¡¯ll need to get off a ways before the gate itself. Too much magic around those twisters; it messes with the horses.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± James replied. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small leather pouch. He counted out several coins, the clinking sound breaking the flow of city noise. ¡°This should cover both of us.¡± The driver¡¯s brows rose slightly, his gaze flicking between the coins and James¡¯s worn clothes. ¡°You paying for the lady too?¡± James didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°She¡¯s with me.¡± The driver pocketed the coins with a shrug, gesturing to the carriage. ¡°Climb in. We¡¯ll set off in a moment.¡± James stepped up onto the wooden step and into the enclosed vehicle. Jennifer hesitated a beat before following, her boots thudding softly against the wood as she settled onto the bench opposite him. The driver snapped the reins, and the carriage jerked into motion, the city streets rattling beneath its wheels. Jennifer studied him for a moment, her arms crossed. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to pay for me.¡± James shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re new to this. Consider it part of the job.¡± ¡°I thought you were new too, according to Marcy?¡± ¡°Mmm... that''s embarrasing for me. I was trying to sound kinda cool,¡± he muttered. Jennifer laughed. "I respect it." The city gave way to open fields. When the carriage stopped, the blue twister of light was visible in the distance. The twister was massive, a whirling column of azure energy, its edges fraying into faint sparks before dissipating into the air. They both got off the carriage. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ different,¡± she murmured, walking beside James as they approached. ¡°The last gate I went to didn¡¯t have a twister. Until I came out of it.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. James hummed, his eyes on the shifting vortex. ¡°From what I hear, the Gate''s twisters disappear when a lot of monsters get killed inside.¡± Jennifer frowned, glancing at the swirling light. ¡°Oh... I see.¡± As they got closer, the twister flared suddenly. Jennifer stumbled back as a tendril of energy lashed out, splitting into smaller twisters that spread out like snapping whips. ¡°What the¡ª¡± she gasped, but before she could say more, the twister surged, catching both of them in its grasp. The world spun. The ground vanished, replaced by the sensation of weightlessness. Light blurred and twisted around them. Jennifer tried to scream, but the air tore the sound from her throat. The spinning seemed to go on forever until, just as abruptly as it started, it stopped. Jennifer hit the ground on her hands and knees, coughing as dust swirled around her. Rocks littered the barren landscape, jagged formations stabbing toward the sky like broken teeth. James stood a few feet away, brushing himself off. ¡°You could have told me it does that too...¡± Jennifer muttered, pushing herself to her feet. ¡°I didn''t think of that. My bad,¡± James replied. He scanned the rocky terrain, his gaze narrowing. ¡°Stay sharp. This doesn¡¯t look friendly.¡± "Yeah, monsters are here. I know." The buzzing came first¡ªa low, steady hum that grew louder with each passing second. Jennifer turned toward the sound, her eyes widening as cat-sized insects darted into view. Their translucent wings shimmered, their bulbous eyes catching the faint light. ¡°Flies?¡± she asked, incredulous. James drew his war hammer that was latched to his back. ¡°They''re ugly as hell.¡± One of the creatures zipped forward at insane speed. Jennifer swung her fist instinctively, the metal of her gauntlet catching it in time. The sharp-edged plates along the knuckles tore clean through one of the insect¡¯s fragile wings. It spiraled to the ground, its legs twitching erratically as it tried and failed to lift off again. James sidestepped another fly and dispatched it with a quick, swing of his hammer. He didn¡¯t even glance at the body as it crumpled. ¡°Holy fuck, they''re quick!" Jennifer agreed. "Yeah, real fast!" Jennifer clenched her gauntleted fist, the joints creaking faintly as she refocused. The buzzing grew louder as another fly shot toward her. Her armored fist lashed out, connecting with a sharp _crunch_ that sent the fly tumbling. It hit the rocky ground hard, its wings bent at odd angles. She caught her breath as another fly zipped in from the corner of her vision. Adjusting her stance, she sidestepped and swung upward with her gauntlet. The heavy, reinforced metal smashed into the creature, and it burst into pieces on impact. ¡°They don''t seem dangerous though, at all,¡± James called, finishing off another with a clean strike. He barely sounded winded. Jennifer grumbled under her breath as two more came at her in quick succession. She raised her gauntleted arm to block, the first fly slamming into the hardened surface with a faint, wet crunch. As the second circled around, she pivoted, driving her fist forward. The blow connected, sending the insect tumbling in a spray of viscous ichor. By the time the buzzing finally died away, she was breathing hard, her arms trembling slightly. She looked over at James, who was already crouched beside one of the downed insects, his blade slicing neatly into its back. She couldn''t tell him what her skill was, which made her think it wasn''t something he could be shown either, so she picked up a dying insect in secret and harvested its ability. The back sensation returned like always. She smiled to herself, having a mobility skill like that in her utility was going to be incredibly useful. James crouched near one of the dead flies, pulling a small knife from his belt. ¡°Help me with this.¡± He gestured for her to join him. ¡°What are we doing?¡± ¡°Harvesting spines.¡± He pressed the blade into the creature¡¯s body, carefully cutting along its back. ¡°Monster spines hold most of their energy. It¡¯s what makes every monster valuable. They¡¯re tougher than regular bones. The best thing you can sell.¡± "I know about the spines stuff, but for some reason it didn''t pop up in my head to extract their spines." Jennifer mimicked his movements, her cuts clumsy but functional. ¡°You do this every time?¡± ¡°Technically it''s my second time. Newbie, remember?¡± --- They finished collecting the spines and packed them away in their individual bags. Jennifer stood, stretching her arms as she glanced around the rocky expanse. ¡°How much is a spine going to bank us?" "For something like these...? Maybe a bronze coin for 5 spines." Chapter 9: Solo Movement Jennifer adjusted her leather bracers as she and James walked out of the Slayer Hub. The sun hung low, casting an orange glow over the dusty streets. Their boots crunched against loose gravel, and the faint hum of distant machinery buzzed in the background. For a moment, they walked in companionable silence before coming to a crossroad where their paths diverged. ¡°Hey, James?¡± Jennifer asked, hesitating slightly as she looked at him. ¡°Yeah?¡± .Why did Marcy refer to you by a different name to me? I mean, if your name¡¯s James.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my new name. James, I mean. My old one... let¡¯s just say I¡¯m trying to leave that life behind. The further away I get from it, the better.¡± Jennifer nodded slowly. ¡°Got it. Clean slate and all that.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He smiled faintly. ¡°Take care out there, alright?¡± ¡°You too.¡± She gave him a small wave, then turned down her street. By the time Jennifer reached her home, the sky had deepened to a dusky gray. She peeled off her armor, leaving it in a neat pile by the door, and headed straight to the bathroom. The lukewarm water felt glorious as it washed away the grime of the day. Halfway through, the flow sputtered and stopped. ¡°Oh, come on,¡± she muttered, staring up at the showerhead as if it would magically resume. It didn¡¯t. With a sigh, she stepped out, dripping wet. She needed to top up her water. Jennifer groaned, threw on a loose shirt and shorts, and collapsed onto her bed. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with it tonight. Her eyes fluttered shut, and sleep claimed her despite the early hour. Morning light streamed through the blinds, waking Jennifer naturally. She stretched her arms overhead, yawning deeply before rolling out of bed. She pulled on her gear. Her armor fit snugly. Today was about one thing: money. The thought of earning enough to not only pay her bills but maybe splurge on something nice was enough to hype her up. After grabbing a honey bread roll from her cabinet, she headed out, chewing as she jogged. Jennifer traced her finger across the map. The nearest gate was marked in soft blue, about nine miles outside the city walls. She sighed, the thought of running all that way weighing on her. She debated using transportation, but it was insanely expensive.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Not worth it,¡± she muttered, tucking the map into her satchel. Steeling herself, Jennifer adjusted her armor and set off at a jog. The streets of the city were beginning to hum with morning activity, but she stuck to quieter alleys, where the cobblestones were smoother and less crowded. Her boots pounded steadily as she ran, and her breath measured. The honey bread she¡¯d eaten earlier sat heavy in her stomach. ¡°Nine miles isn¡¯t that bad,¡± she muttered, though her lungs burned. She pressed on, leaving the city behind. The open fields stretched ahead of her, rolling gently under the soft light of the rising sun. The air here smelled cleaner, less tinged with the faint metallic tang of the city¡¯s magi-crystals. She picked up her pace, jogging along the narrow dirt path that led toward the gate. The first two miles passed uneventfully, but by the forth, her legs felt heavier. The heat of the sun bore down on her, and the sweat beneath her armor began to make her undershirt stick uncomfortably to her back. She slowed to a walk, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. Jennifer planted her hands on her hips, looking down the endless stretch of road. ¡°Maybe transportation wouldn¡¯t have been the worst idea,¡± she muttered. Still, she knew she wouldn¡¯t have actually paid for it, no matter how tired she felt. She¡¯d walked back to the city twice yesterday, dragging herself along with aching legs and no money left for a ride. If she could handle it after a day of fighting monsters, she could handle it now. After a moment, she straightened and started running again, though her pace was slower this time. She stopped once more just before the nine-mile marker, bending over and resting her hands on her knees again. Sweat dripped from her brow, and her breathing came in heavy gasps. Her fingers brushed against the map in her satchel, and she checked it again, confirming she was nearly there. She squinted at the horizon, where faint wisps of light blue energy began to ripple and shimmer. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± she said, her voice hoarse. She wiped her forehead and pushed forward. The gate¡¯s presence became more obvious as she neared. Floating embers of light blue Gate energy danced above a portion of the land, flickering like fireflies. Jennifer slowed to a walk, her chest still heaving. Sweat slicked her face and trickled down her neck, and she was sure her hair clung awkwardly to her forehead under her headband. She pulled at the collar of her undershirt, fanning herself briefly before adjusting her armor again. ¡°Made it,¡± she muttered. As she stepped closer, her heart sank. The gate shimmered with its characteristic blue light, but the twister was nowhere to be seen. Someone had already been inside recently. Jennifer groaned softly, wiping her face again. ¡°Figures,¡± she said under her breath. Still, she wasn¡¯t about to turn back now. Even if the gate had been cleared recently, it could still yield something. She stepped into the glowing boundary. Inside the gate, the air was thick with the scent of damp grass, a wet, earthy tang that clung to Jennifer¡¯s senses. The rolling terrain was uneven, dotted with tall clusters of waving grass that swayed gently in a non-existent breeze. Jennifer rested her hand on the hilt of her blade, taking a slow, deliberate look around. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was watching her. The grass was tall enough to hide small creatures, and while the faint rustling might have been the wind, it set her on edge. ¡°Not taking chances,¡± she muttered. Satisfied there was no immediate threat, Jennifer stepped back onto a clear patch of dirt and activated her third skill. A surge of power rushed through her legs as her body propelled forward in a sudden burst. The world blurred for two seconds before she skidded to a stop thirty feet away, her boots kicking up dirt. Chapter 9: Solo Movement Jennifer adjusted her leather bracers as she and James walked out of the Slayer Hub. The sun hung low, casting an orange glow over the dusty streets. Their boots crunched against loose gravel, and the faint hum of distant machinery buzzed in the background. For a moment, they walked in companionable silence before coming to a crossroad where their paths diverged. ¡°Hey, James?¡± Jennifer asked, hesitating slightly as she looked at him. ¡°Yeah?¡± .Why did Marcy refer to you by a different name to me? I mean, if your name¡¯s James.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my new name. James, I mean. My old one... let¡¯s just say I¡¯m trying to leave that life behind. The further away I get from it, the better.¡± Jennifer nodded slowly. ¡°Got it. Clean slate and all that.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He smiled faintly. ¡°Take care out there, alright?¡± ¡°You too.¡± She gave him a small wave, then turned down her street. By the time Jennifer reached her home, the sky had deepened to a dusky gray. She peeled off her armor, leaving it in a neat pile by the door, and headed straight to the bathroom. The lukewarm water felt glorious as it washed away the grime of the day. Halfway through, the flow sputtered and stopped. ¡°Oh, come on,¡± she muttered, staring up at the showerhead as if it would magically resume. It didn¡¯t. With a sigh, she stepped out, dripping wet. She needed to top up her water. Jennifer groaned, threw on a loose shirt and shorts, and collapsed onto her bed. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with it tonight. Her eyes fluttered shut, and sleep claimed her despite the early hour. Morning light streamed through the blinds, waking Jennifer naturally. She stretched her arms overhead, yawning deeply before rolling out of bed. She pulled on her gear. Her armor fit snugly. Today was about one thing: money. The thought of earning enough to not only pay her bills but maybe splurge on something nice was enough to hype her up. After grabbing a honey bread roll from her cabinet, she headed out, chewing as she jogged. Jennifer traced her finger across the map. The nearest gate was marked in soft blue, about nine miles outside the city walls. She sighed, the thought of running all that way weighing on her. She debated using transportation, but it was insanely expensive.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Not worth it,¡± she muttered, tucking the map into her satchel. Steeling herself, Jennifer adjusted her armor and set off at a jog. The streets of the city were beginning to hum with morning activity, but she stuck to quieter alleys, where the cobblestones were smoother and less crowded. Her boots pounded steadily as she ran, and her breath measured. The honey bread she¡¯d eaten earlier sat heavy in her stomach. ¡°Nine miles isn¡¯t that bad,¡± she muttered, though her lungs burned. She pressed on, leaving the city behind. The open fields stretched ahead of her, rolling gently under the soft light of the rising sun. The air here smelled cleaner, less tinged with the faint metallic tang of the city¡¯s magi-crystals. She picked up her pace, jogging along the narrow dirt path that led toward the gate. The first two miles passed uneventfully, but by the forth, her legs felt heavier. The heat of the sun bore down on her, and the sweat beneath her armor began to make her undershirt stick uncomfortably to her back. She slowed to a walk, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. Jennifer planted her hands on her hips, looking down the endless stretch of road. ¡°Maybe transportation wouldn¡¯t have been the worst idea,¡± she muttered. Still, she knew she wouldn¡¯t have actually paid for it, no matter how tired she felt. She¡¯d walked back to the city twice yesterday, dragging herself along with aching legs and no money left for a ride. If she could handle it after a day of fighting monsters, she could handle it now. After a moment, she straightened and started running again, though her pace was slower this time. She stopped once more just before the nine-mile marker, bending over and resting her hands on her knees again. Sweat dripped from her brow, and her breathing came in heavy gasps. Her fingers brushed against the map in her satchel, and she checked it again, confirming she was nearly there. She squinted at the horizon, where faint wisps of light blue energy began to ripple and shimmer. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± she said, her voice hoarse. She wiped her forehead and pushed forward. The gate¡¯s presence became more obvious as she neared. Floating embers of light blue Gate energy danced above a portion of the land, flickering like fireflies. Jennifer slowed to a walk, her chest still heaving. Sweat slicked her face and trickled down her neck, and she was sure her hair clung awkwardly to her forehead under her headband. She pulled at the collar of her undershirt, fanning herself briefly before adjusting her armor again. ¡°Made it,¡± she muttered. As she stepped closer, her heart sank. The gate shimmered with its characteristic blue light, but the twister was nowhere to be seen. Someone had already been inside recently. Jennifer groaned softly, wiping her face again. ¡°Figures,¡± she said under her breath. Still, she wasn¡¯t about to turn back now. Even if the gate had been cleared recently, it could still yield something. She stepped into the glowing boundary. Inside the gate, the air was thick with the scent of damp grass, a wet, earthy tang that clung to Jennifer¡¯s senses. The rolling terrain was uneven, dotted with tall clusters of waving grass that swayed gently in a non-existent breeze. Jennifer rested her hand on the hilt of her blade, taking a slow, deliberate look around. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was watching her. The grass was tall enough to hide small creatures, and while the faint rustling might have been the wind, it set her on edge. ¡°Not taking chances,¡± she muttered. Satisfied there was no immediate threat, Jennifer stepped back onto a clear patch of dirt and activated her third skill. A surge of power rushed through her legs as her body propelled forward in a sudden burst. The world blurred for two seconds before she skidded to a stop thirty feet away, her boots kicking up dirt. Chapter 10: False Gates She grinned, brushing off her gloves. ¡°Not bad.¡± Movement caught her eye to the right. A group of red, dog-sized lizards slithered through the grass, their long bodies moving with unsettling fluidity. Their teeth, massive and unnaturally long, jutted out from their mouths like needles. One hissed, its long tongue flicking out as it turned toward her. Jennifer slipped her knife from her belt and adjusted the heavy gauntlets on her hands. She didn¡¯t wait for the lizards to strike first. The first one lunged at her, jaws snapping, but Jennifer sidestepped and slammed her gauntleted fist into its head. The creature¡¯s skull crunched under the impact, and it crumpled to the ground. A second lizard darted in from her left, but she spun, catching it with an uppercut that sent it flying. She didn¡¯t have time to admire her handiwork. Another lizard charged, and she crouched, driving her knife into its belly as it leaped. The creature thrashed wildly, its claws scratching against her armor before it went limp. One by one, the lizards came at her, and one by one, she took them down. Her fists flew in a flurry of punches, each impact sending tremors up her arms. The knife in her hand became an extension of her movements, slashing and stabbing as she worked to keep the creatures from surrounding her. I don''t think I want long teeth as a power. By the time she finished, ten lizards lay dead around her. Jennifer crouched by the nearest one, pulling her knife free from its body. The blade was sticky with dark blood, and the stench of the creatures was starting to make her gag. She wiped her face with the back of her arm, grimacing at the sweat dripping into her eyes. ¡°Disgusting,¡± she muttered, pulling the first lizard¡¯s corpse closer. Jennifer worked quickly, using her knife to extract the spines from their bodies. Each one was slightly curved, smooth, and surprisingly light for its size. They¡¯d fetch a decent price at the Hub, and she needed every bit of coin she could earn. The last spine came loose with a sickening squelch. Jennifer sat back on her heels, catching her breath as she wiped the blade clean on her gauntlet. She glanced at the pile of extracted spines beside in her bag, satisfied with her haul. Then the air shifted. It was subtle at first, a faint prickling against her skin that raised the hairs on her neck. Then came the wind, sharp and sudden, slicing through the tall grass and sending strands whipping around her face. Jennifer barely had time to react before she felt a sting across her cheek, hot and sharp. She flinched, her hand flying to her face. When she pulled it away, her fingers were smeared with blood. Something moved in the grass ahead, too fast for her to see clearly. Her heart pounded as she scrambled to her feet, gripping her knife tightly. Whatever it was, it was big¡ªand fast.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The grass parted, and a blur of dark scales lunged toward her, teeth bared and glinting like razors. Jennifer braced herself, knowing she wouldn¡¯t have time to dodge¡ª A streak of fire shot past her, so close she felt the heat on her skin. The fiery projectile struck the creature mid-lunge, engulfing it in flames. The beast let out a horrible shriek before collapsing into the dirt, its body smoldering. Jennifer turned sharply, her breath catching as a figure landed lightly on the ground nearby. His fiery red hair was unmistakable, and his amber eyes seemed to glow faintly as they locked onto hers. ¡°No way,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. He adjusted the bow composed of flames in his hand, his gaze scanning the horizon briefly before returning to her. ¡°You¡¯re new,¡± he said. Jennifer nodded, still trying to catch her breath. ¡°Yeah.¡± He muttered something under his breath, too quiet for her to hear. She blinked, shaking off her shock. ¡°Thanks a lot" "You nearly died." "Yeah. I wasn''t expecting this place to have such strong monsters." He said, ¡°You got unlucky, walking into a false gate. The monsters in here are mixed with much stronger ones." She wanted to protest, but seeing the speed of that crab, it was hard to believe he wasn''t telling the truth. "How do I tell a false gate apart from a real one?" "No twisters." "What. But I was told that meant a lot of monsters in the gate was killed." "Gate world, the gate is just the transportation... and yes, that is one of the main reasons why false gates are created." "Huh. Damn." Without another word, Jennifer left. The sting on her cheek throbbed faintly, but her mind was elsewhere. His face. It felt like she had seen him somewhere before. It didn''t matter too much she figured. She just had to be much more careful. Back at the Monster Slayer Hub, she found herself trading. Just like the day before, the room was buzzing with people. The large, stone-floored hall smelled faintly of dried blood and leather, mingling with the earthy scent of recently harvested monster parts. Jennifer stepped up to one of the counters. ¡°What¡¯ve you got?¡± A middle-aged man asked briskly, his voice flat but not unkind. Jennifer dropped the bag onto the counter with a soft thud. The faint smell of blood wafted up as the clerk untied the bag and peered inside. He grabbed a pair of gloves and reached in, pulling out one of the long, curved spines. ¡°Red lizard spines,¡± he noted, holding it up to the light. He turned it in his hands, inspecting it for damage or defects. Satisfied, he set it aside and pulled out another, then another, working through the bag. After a few minutes, he nodded and pulled a small scale from beneath the counter. One by one, he weighed the spines, occasionally jotting down notes in his ledger. Jennifer tapped her fingers lightly against the counter, her patience wearing thin but knowing better than to rush the process. She wished she was dealing with the clerk from the day before. She would be on her way home already. When he finished, he set the spines aside and looked up at her. ¡°Good haul,¡± he said. ¡°Decent quality. Fifty bronze coins for the lot.¡± Jennifer felt a small surge of satisfaction as the clerk reached into a metal lockbox and counted out the coins, sliding the small pile toward her. She swept them into her palm. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, pocketing the money. The clerk nodded and turned back to his ledger without another word. As Jennifer left the Resource Trade Room, the weight of the coins in her pouch brought a faint smile to her face. She hadn¡¯t been a Slayer for long, but already the difference in income was staggering. Back at her old job, she¡¯d toiled for hours to earn just 15 bronze coins in a single day. Now, one hunt had brought her more than three times that amount. To be fair, she had almost died but it was worth it. Chapter 11: Henderson Jennifer exited the public water company, the receipt crinkled in her hand. She paused briefly on the steps, tucking it into her pocket before stepping out into the midday sun. The streets were lively with vendors shouting their wares, and children darted between carts, their laughter filling the air. Her thoughts were elsewhere, on the errands she still needed to run and the quiet evening she planned for herself. But as she turned a corner, her shoulder bumped into someone. ¡°Jennifer!¡± She looked up, startled, to see Henderson standing in front of her. His grin was wide, his posture casual. She planned on taking the words of James seriously. Henderson is his brother, he would know better than him. ¡°Henderson,¡± she replied curtly, stepping to the side. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you out here,¡± he said, falling into step beside her. ¡°Just paid my water bill,¡± Jennifer said, hoping her short responses would send a message. ¡°Ah, responsible as ever,¡± Henderson chuckled. ¡°So, how was your slaying today?¡± ¡°It was fine.¡± ¡°Just fine?¡± he pressed, tilting his head. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me¡ªyou went out alone again, didn¡¯t you?¡± Jennifer shrugged. ¡°Yeah? Is it uncommon?¡± Henderson stopped walking, staring at her like she¡¯d said something outrageous. ¡°Why would you do that? You know it¡¯s safer to team up.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t feel like it,¡± she said simply, continuing down the street. Henderson caught up quickly, his tone now a mix of concern and disbelief. ¡°You didn¡¯t feel like it? Jennifer, that¡¯s reckless. You should come with me tomorrow. Seriously.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± He smiled, apparently satisfied, and gave her a wave as he turned down a different street. Jennifer sighed in relief, muttering to herself, ¡°Not happening.¡± The next morning, Jennifer was awake before dawn. The city was quieter in the early hours, the streets still damp from the night¡¯s dew. She made her way to the Slayer Hub, its towering structure standing at the heart of the city. She thought for a while, she heard in other cities, hubs were called ¡°Arks,¡± named after Noah¡¯s Ark, a safe haven against an unstoppable monster disaster. If a city were ever overrun by monsters, the Arks were designed to withstand an attack, housing the survivors for as long as needed. But here, it was simply called the Monster Slayer Hub. This city was renowned for having the largest concentration of slayers in the country. Yet, whenever Jennifer visited, the halls were eerily quiet. Most slayers seemed to stick to the resource trading area, swapping materials and gear and Gate Hunting. She picked up a bag from the Trade room, cursing herself for forgetting to buy one yesterday.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She left the city and was making her way to a Gate somewhat close to the city. It didn''t seem Gates run short of monsters so she guess it wasn''t a big deal if she went to one someone was just in. However, she was thinking of the possibility of entering a false gate. Frustrating. ¡°Heading out early?¡± Jennifer turned to see James walking toward her. He looked rough, his face bruised and his movements stiff. ¡°What happened to you?¡± she asked, frowning. ¡°Nothing,¡± he said quickly, avoiding her eyes. Jennifer raised an eyebrow. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like nothing.¡± James shrugged. ¡°Where are you headed?¡± ¡°What do you think? To kill some monsters and make some moneeeeey,¡± she smiled, while showing him her map and the gate she was walking towards. It was the third closest one. ¡°You should take the one on the west instead,¡± he said, falling into step beside her. She stopped, staring at him, confused. ¡°Why would I do that? Don''t you see how far it is?¡± James hesitated, his gaze shifting nervously. ¡°Closer gates are never that good... Resources ain''t the best, I guess¡± "Me and you are both new at this. What¡¯s really going on?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± he said again, but his voice wavered. ¡°Is someone after you...?¡± He shook his head, but his unease was palpable. ¡°No one¡¯s after me. Just trust me.¡± Jennifer scoffed. ¡°Right. Look, I don¡¯t know you well enough to trust you, and you¡¯re acting suspicious. So either tell me what¡¯s going on, or... I don''t know, tell me what''s up.¡± Before James could respond, a familiar voice cut through the tension. ¡°Well, well. What¡¯s all this?¡± Jennifer turned to see Henderson approaching, his usual grin plastered across his face. He casually threw an arm around both of their shoulders, pulling them close. How the hell...? ¡°What are you two whispering about?¡± Henderson¡¯s voice broke through the tension, lighthearted on the surface, but with an edge that sent a chill down Jennifer¡¯s spine. ¡°Nothing,¡± Jennifer snapped, twisting her shoulders in an attempt to shrug off his arm. Henderson chuckled, tightening his grip. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that. I¡¯ve got something to tell you. Just wait a second.¡± Jennifer exchanged a quick glance with James. His jaw was tight, his eyes darting to the ground as though searching for a way out. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Jennifer demanded, her claws instinctively lengthening. ¡°Relax,¡± Henderson said, his grin widening. ¡°Just give me a moment.¡± But the silence that followed was suffocating, and Henderson didn¡¯t release them. The ground at their feet began to glow faintly, soft blue light spreading outward in circular manner. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Jennifer growled, her claws twitching. Henderson¡¯s grin turned into a full smile. ¡°You should always pay attention to the map.¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t wait. With a snarl, she swiped at him, her claws raking across his chest. Sparks flew as her claws met armor hidden beneath his shirt, leaving not so much as a scratch. Henderson didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Nice try.¡± Jennifer kept slashing again and again, but her claws slid uselessly over the reinforced material. James took a step back, his hands trembling. ¡°Henderson, stop this. Whatever you¡¯re planning¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Henderson¡¯s voice was low, sharp. James froze instantly, his shoulders sagging as his fight drained away. Jennifer turned on him. ¡°Are you serious right now? Fight back!¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± James stammered, his gaze fixed on Henderson¡¯s armor. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± The wind around them grew stronger, kicking up loose dirt and debris. Blue currents spiraled upward, forming a vortex that began to encase them. ¡°Let me go!¡± Jennifer snarled, twisting and thrashing against his hold. Henderson leaned in, his voice almost a whisper. ¡°You¡¯re too special for that.¡± The vortex surged, pulling them off their feet. The world spun in a blur of blue light and roaring wind. Jennifer and James were thrown like rag dolls, landing hard on wet sand. The sharp scent of salt filled the air, and the sound of crashing waves echoed around them. Jennifer landed hard on wet sand, coughing as she scrambled to her feet. The air smelled of salt, and waves lapped in the distance. She spun around, spotting Henderson standing nearby, brushing himself off like nothing had happened. ¡°Now, no prying eyes,¡± he said, his grin widening. His gaze locked on Jennifer. ¡°I sensed it the moment I touched you. Your life span¡­ It¡¯s massive. I want it.¡± "Want what? 20 years?" "No, all of the years you''re capable of living." "... You''re nuts." Chapter 12: An easy way out Jennifer took a step back, her body tense. She glared at Henderson, who stood across from her. ¡°You¡¯ve made a mistake,¡± she said, her voice firm but sharp with tension. ¡°Why would my life force be significant? Also you''re talking like I¡¯m supposed to end up dead. That''ll simply open a case.¡± Henderson tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as if weighing her words. ¡°Why do you think we¡¯re here? Off-Earth?¡± Her thoughts spiraled until she forced herself to focus. ¡°What about James?¡± she asked finally, her voice quieter now. ¡°Are you going to absorb his life force too?¡± A smirk tugged at the corner of Henderson¡¯s mouth, but he shook his head, almost pityingly. ¡°No. James, remove her limbs.¡± James flinched as if struck. His hands trembled. ¡°Henderson, I¡­¡± ¡°I said, now!¡± Henderson bellowed. ¡°James, you owe me. You¡¯re nothing without me. You think you¡¯ve made it on your own? I¡¯ve been here for you since you were nothing. Don¡¯t forget that. Now do as I say.¡± James¡¯s breath hitched, his eyes darting between Henderson and Jennifer, his hands still shaking. The hesitation lingered, an ocean of uncertainty in his expression. But Henderson¡¯s stare drilled into him. ¡°There¡¯s no going back now,¡± Henderson continued. ¡°You¡¯re already in this, James. I made you, remember that. Now prove it.¡± James clenched his fists, taking a shaky breath. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t want to do this,¡± he whispered, his voice barely audible. ¡°You want to back out now? After everything I¡¯ve done for you?¡± His voice sharpened, the commanding tone tightening around James like a vice. ¡°Do it now, or you¡¯ll regret it. You owe me, James. You owe everything to me.¡± The words lashed at James¡¯s conscience. He turned to Jennifer, guilt flooding his features as metal disks materialized around him, their sharp edges spinning ominously. Henderson¡¯s cold eyes never left James. ¡°Good. You''ll get accustomed to it. Not to mention, you''ll benefit from it. If I''m stronger, the better I''m at protecting you.¡± James swallowed hard, fighting back the rising wave of nausea. The disks spun around him, the whirring sound cutting through the tension. Jennifer''s body instinctively tensed. She was preparing to use her third skill in conjunction with her claws. She had to kill James, the weaker of the two now. She wasn''t sure why Henderson needed James to attack her. There had to be a good reason behind it.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. She guessed James had the offensive capabilities. This life drain was probably incredibly slow or had strict conditions. That was the only thing that made sense to her. But before she could act, the disks¡ªunexpectedly¡ªturned toward Henderson. They spiraled through the air, slicing toward him. Henderson¡¯s confident mask cracked for the briefest of moments. His eyes widened as the whirling projectiles tore toward him, too fast for him to completely avoid. He raised his arms in a desperate attempt to shield himself, but several disks grazed him, leaving shallow cuts across his skin. ¡°What the hell?¡± Henderson snarled. His composure snapped back into place. ¡°What''s wrong with you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re near the edge of the gate!¡± James shouted, his voice shaking with panic. ¡°We can leave now!¡± Jennifer blinked, her mind racing to piece together what had just happened. She didn''t need to think about it for long. She lunged forward, grabbing James¡¯s hand. With a sharp inhale, she activated her third skill¡ªhyper movement. The world blurred around them as they shot forward, each step consuming her focus. Almost immediately they were out. The transition hit her like a wall of icy water. The world flipped, gravity twisted, and then they were spat out onto Earth from a blue twister. Jennifer hit the ground hard, her body rolling with the impact. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself upright despite the pain. ¡°We have to get to the city!¡± she shouted. ¡°Report this to the hub!¡± James grabbed her arm, yanking her back. His grip was firm, his expression grim. ¡°No! He¡¯ll twist it. He¡¯ll say we attacked him, and with his skills, they¡¯ll be bias to him¡­¡± His voice dropped, edged with frustration. ¡°You lied about your skill?¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Who gives a shit about that right now?!¡± She grabbed his hand again. Hyper movement surged to life, propelling them forward in bursts, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Her muscles screamed, her breaths came ragged, and after a few strides, she tripped. The ground rushed up to meet her, and she tumbled to a stop, struggling to rise. A heavy thud reverberated behind them. Jennifer turned her head slowly, dread pooling in her stomach. Henderson emerged from the gate, his steps steady. He dusted himself off with deliberate slowness, his gaze locking onto them. ¡°All it took for James to betray me was a girl. Wow.¡± Jennifer pushed herself upright, ignoring the screaming protest of her body. She raised her hand and fired, goo projectiles arcing toward Henderson. He sidestepped with smooth, almost inhuman precision. Her aim shifted, spraying the ground around him, forcing him to navigate a minefield of goo. ¡°James!¡± she shouted, her voice hoarse. James didn¡¯t hesitate. Summoning his disks, he sent them whirling toward Henderson. They sliced through the air with deadly intent. Henderson dodged most, but not all¡ªsome grazed him, leaving shallow dents on his armor. His movements slowed. He was doing his best to avoid the disks reaching his face. "Really?" Henderson muttered, his voice low with disbelief. "This is how we''re doing this now?" Jennifer seized the moment, firing again. This time, the sticky substance latched onto his legs, rooting him in place. Henderson snarled, straining against the goo. James ran to her side, pulling her up with urgency. ¡°We need to go¡ªnow.¡± Chapter 13: Thinking Of A Counterattack James¡¯s arms trembled under Jennifer¡¯s weight as he carried her, each step hammering the point home: they had no plan. The roads leading into the heart of the city were eerily quiet, their usual hum of activity replaced by the soft crunch of James¡¯s boots and Jennifer¡¯s labored breaths. ¡°You¡¯re not taking me to the hub?¡± she rasped, her voice strained but defiant. ¡°I already told you why,¡± he shot back, barely glancing down. His face was set in stone, jaw tight and eyes scanning for threats. ¡°I was listening, James,¡± Jennifer groaned, trying to shift her weight to ease the sharp ache in her back. ¡°But what other choice do we have?¡± He let out a frustrated huff, adjusting his grip as he pushed forward. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I know the hub isn¡¯t it. Not this time.¡± ¡°Not this time? What the hell does that even mean?¡± she demanded, her tone sharper despite the pain. ¡°I¡¯d rather take a damn chance there than just¡ªjust what, hope we get lucky?¡± ¡°Oh god!¡± James barked, voice loud enough to echo off the towering concrete walls lining the streets. He halted abruptly, his chest rising and falling with quick breaths. ¡°You don¡¯t get it. The hub won¡¯t work. Henderson¡¯s too smart for that.¡± Jennifer¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Smart? Did you not see how we escaped from him? Whatever excuse he comes up with we can easily counter. He says he''s damaged and not them? He tried to pressure you to kill me. If he tries to counter that, we counter somehow¡ª¡± ¡°He¡¯s smart,¡± James interrupted/. ¡°You think he hasn¡¯t thought about what happens if someone turns him in? He never directly kills anyone. Not technically.¡± ¡°Not¡ª¡± Jennifer started, but he cut her off. ¡°He ropes people in, makes them do the near killing in a gate world,¡± James spat. ¡°They¡¯re the ones with blood on their hands, not him. Then at the very last minute, he takes the victim''s life force. Investigators have looked into him before. He makes sure there¡¯s nothing to pin on him. Nothing that sticks.¡± Jennifer stared at him, her expression frozen. ¡°So we¡¯re just supposed to give up? Become victims. Or should I say, let myself become a victim?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± James snapped. ¡°I said going to the hub is a trap.¡± For a moment, Jennifer didn¡¯t respond. Her breathing was steady but shallow, her mind spinning as she tried to process his words. The truth in them left her stomach twisting. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± she whispered finally.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. James looked at her, his features softening, but only slightly. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m sure.¡± They continued in silence until they reached the edge of a narrow street leading to James¡¯s house. It was small, nestled among identical structures with faded walls and barred windows. He pushed open the door with his shoulder, careful not to jar Jennifer too much, and set her gently onto the couch. ¡°You should rest,¡± he said gruffly. Jennifer winced as she lay back, her muscles burning in protest. ¡°I don''t think I have much of a choice...¡± ¡°True...¡± James muttered, pacing the small room. His movements were restless, like a caged animal. Minutes turned to hours. Jennifer drifted in and out of a fitful sleep, the ache in her body a constant reminder of her overuse of hyper-movement. When she finally felt strong enough to sit up, James was leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, his gaze distant. ¡°How many times has Henderson done this?¡± she asked, her voice quieter now, stripped of its earlier sharpness. James glanced at her, a shadow passing over his face. ¡°A lot.¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t press further. The weight of that answer settled over the room like a heavy fog. She stretched cautiously, wincing but relieved that the pain was beginning to subside. Her mind churned with possibilities, each one more desperate than the last. Finally, she broke the silence. ¡°Maybe we hire someone?¡± James¡¯s brow furrowed as he pushed off the wall. ¡°Hire someone? For what?¡± ¡°To kill him,¡± she said flatly. He stared at her like she¡¯d lost her mind. ¡°What?¡± "We don¡¯t have any leverage, no resources, no backup. What else are we supposed to do?¡± ¡°Even if¡ªthat was an option, how are we supposed to pay for it? Take out a loan with what credit?¡± ¡°Not from a bank. I mean loansharks. People who don¡¯t ask questions.¡± His jaw dropped, and for a moment, he just stared at her in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. You want to borrow money from criminals to hire a hitman? That¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°Do you have a better one?¡± she shot back, her voice rising. ¡°Because right now, we¡¯ve got a blade hanging over our necks, and every second we waste brings it closer. I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s a terrible idea¡ªat least it¡¯s something.¡± ¡°No,¡± he said firmly, locking eyes with her. ¡°But digging ourselves into a deeper hole isn¡¯t the answer either.¡± "Yeah, you ain''t going to do it. If they want to harvest my organs in three years, at least I''ll be alive until then." She made her to the door. Before Jennifer reached the door, there was a sudden knock on it, making them both freeze. It was followed by a deep, authoritative voice. ¡°James, Jennifer. Open the door.¡± James exchanged a look with Jennifer, who was already struggling to her feet. ¡°Monster Slayer Law Enforcers,¡± the voice continued. ¡°We¡¯re here to talk.¡± ¡°Stay here,¡± James whispered, his heart pounding as he approached the door. He opened it slowly, revealing three figures clad in black armor, their helmets obscuring their faces. Each bore a white tag on their chest, designed like a generic key of everything that appears on every slayer back. They were from the Monster Slayer enforcement division gleaming faintly. One of them stepped forward. ¡°There¡¯s been a report involving you and an attack on another registered slayer. A man named Henderson Kelp.¡± James¡¯s grip on the door tightened. ¡°Attack? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± The lead enforcer tilted his head. ¡°We¡¯re not here to argue. We just want to ask a few questions. Will you come with us?¡± Jennifer appeared behind James, her face pale but determined. ¡°We didn¡¯t attack anyone,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Henderson¡ªhe¡¯s lying.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for us to determine,¡± another enforcer said, his voice cold. ¡°Now, are you going to cooperate, or do we have to make this official?¡± Chapter 14: Unfortunate Is The One Thats Too Lucky The walk to the Hub was a blur. James and Jennifer descended a flight of stairs that led to a dimly lit corridor, its walls lined with reinforced cells. They were pushed into one of the cells and locked inside without a word. Jennifer¡¯s temper flared. She turned to the enforcer who locked the cell. ¡°Hey! Aren¡¯t you even going to question us? He¡¯s the one who tried to kill me!¡± The enforcer ignored her, walking away without so much as a glance. ¡°This is insane!¡± she shouted after him, her voice bouncing off the cold steel walls. She paced furiously, her claws unsheathing with a metallic snikt. Without hesitation, she began slashing at the bars, each swipe sending a shower of sparks flying. James muttered from the corner, watching her in confusion, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Breaking out, what does it look like?¡± she snapped, continuing to claw at the unyielding metal. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t even be here. We didn¡¯t do anything wrong!¡± I should have taken those damn lizards'' teeth skill! ¡°Yeah, but those bars aren¡¯t going anywhere,¡± James said, leaning back against the wall. He didn¡¯t press the issue. Her wild swings and ferocity seemed almost desperate. They were kept in that cell for over an hour, the oppressive silence broken only by the occasional clang of Jennifer¡¯s claws against the steel. Then, the door at the top of the stairs creaked open, and the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps filled the hallway. Jennifer¡¯s claws retracted instantly as the figure emerged from the shadows. It was a slim man in a crisp suit, his dark hair slicked back and a faint smirk on his lips. Henderson. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± James muttered, rising to his feet. Henderson¡¯s calm gaze swept over them as he stepped closer to the cell, hands in his pockets. ¡°I asked to pay you a visit,¡± he said smoothly, his voice laced with mock civility. ¡°Do you have any idea how much it cost to bribe these men? Quite a fortune, let me tell you. Jennifer narrowed her eyes, stepping forward. ¡°Bribe who?¡± ¡°Who do you think?¡± he asked, as if humoring a child. She clenched her fists. ¡°The enforcers that dragged us here?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. The smug expression on his face was answer enough. Jennifer felt the blood rush to her head, and her claws itched to come out. ¡°Of course it was,¡± James muttered bitterly. ¡°You always did know how to get people off to do your dirty work.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± Jennifer asked. "You can''t do what you want here." ¡°Oh, I can. I don''t care what the consequences will be, but I''ll get your life force,¡± Henderson said.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Jennifer summoned her claws and reached for his neck. She attempted to use hyper movement in conjunction, but her muscles were too pained for that. Henderson quickly grabbed her wrist. Before Jennifer could react, his fingers clamped around her wrist with a grip like iron. She gasped, unable to pull free as he yanked her closer. James charged forward, but Henderson turned and delivered a single punch to James¡¯s gut, sending him crumpling to the floor. "I''ll take everything you got..." But then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the stairs above. Henderson frowned, releasing Jennifer abruptly. "Damn it..." he muttered. He disappeared up the stairs just as other enforcers descended, their heavy boots thudding against the concrete steps. An hour passed in silence. Jennifer rubbed her sore wrist, glancing at James, who sat hunched over on the bench, still recovering from the blow. ¡°I thought he was smart. Lead people to gates, leave the body there, after draining everything,¡± she asked. "I guess he really wants your life." Jennifer opened her mouth to respond, but the sound of approaching footsteps cut her off. It wasn''t Henderson. The man had a keyring dangling from his hand. He unlocked the door, pushing it open with a casual shrug. ¡°You¡¯re free to go.¡± James and Jennifer exchanged confused looks. ¡°What?¡± James asked. ¡°Why?¡± The man shrugged again. ¡°Not sure what¡¯s going on. But there are no charges against you anymore.¡± Jennifer stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. ¡°That¡¯s it? After all that, we just walk out of here?¡± ¡°Pretty much,¡± the man replied. ¡°Henderson was here about an hour ago. He left the Hub along with the three that brought you there, discussing something, and then... Well, everything changed. The three enforcers rushed back to the hub, acting weird, like they¡¯d seen a ghost. Next thing I know, they¡¯re confessing to bribery and false charges. Everything unraveled. Don¡¯t ask me why¡ªI¡¯m just the messenger.¡± James frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s Henderson now?¡± The man shook his head. ¡°No idea. The enforcers outside were saying something about fire, a dragon-man, and¡ªwell, let¡¯s just say they didn¡¯t sound all there. Like they¡¯d cracked under pressure.¡± Jennifer and James followed the man out of the cell. They walked through the Hub in stunned silence. Outside, the cold air bit at Jennifer¡¯s skin as they stood on the steps of the Hub. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± James muttered. Jennifer didn¡¯t answer right away. Her thoughts drifted back to the moment she¡¯d been saved in that false gate. A creature that powerful should have been her end, but someone¡ªor something¡ªhad intervened. And now this? Henderson and the enforcers falling apart just as she was in real deep shit? Her claws flexed involuntarily. ¡°What are the chances,¡± she muttered to herself, ¡°that this just magically worked out in my favor?¡± --- Jennifer walked back to her apartment, her thoughts weighed down by the day¡¯s events. James had offered to stick around, but she¡¯d waved him off, needing to be alone. Her apartment greeted her with the same cold, empty silence it always did. Jennifer locked the door behind her, pausing for a moment to lean against it, her breath shaky. She peeled her armor off piece by piece, letting each section fall to the floor with a muted clatter. Beneath it, her body was littered with bruises and scratches from the first day of being a monster slayer. She was getting accustomed to it. She slipped into a loose shirt and shorts before collapsing onto her bed. The mattress welcomed her with a softness. For a long moment, she simply lay there, staring at the cracked ceiling, her mind swirling. Henderson¡¯s smirk haunted her thoughts. His words, his calm confidence¡ªthey clung to her like a shadow. And then there were the strange series of events that had saved her and James. The enforcers turned on him. The talk of fire and a dragon-man. None of it made sense. Jennifer turned onto her side, clutching the pillow as unease crept through her. ¡°Maybe all this good luck isn¡¯t so good,¡± she muttered under her breath. Her gaze drifted to the blank wall beside her bed. The words slipped from her lips before she could stop herself. ¡°Why was I chosen to have a Key of Everything?¡± The air in the room grew heavy, and her pulse quickened as the wall in front of her began to shimmer. Lines of fiery light seared across its surface, forming glowing letters that spelled out: Why is anyone chosen to inherit a Great Key of Everything? ¡°To fight monsters that plague the land... gates that appear on Earth. But what else? Are you behind all these things? The dragon-man? My protection?¡± There wasn''t a response. Chapter 14.5: Uneasy Sleeping Jennifer lay staring at ceiling, her mind spinning in endless circles. No matter how hard she tried, sleep wouldn¡¯t come. Her body ached, but her thoughts refused to quiet. Everything that happened that day looped through her head: Henderson¡¯s smug face, the glowing words on her wall, the strange series of events that had saved her and James from what should have been an inescapable trap. Every instinct screamed that this was a setup. She couldn¡¯t trust the calm. Henderson could strike at any moment, and the thought made her muscles coil with tension. When the knock came at her door, Jennifer was already halfway to her feet. Her heart pounded as she aimed her hand toward the door, crimson goo bubbling in her palm, ready to fire. She forced her voice steady. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± James said from the other side of the door, his voice muffled but recognizable. Jennifer frowned, not lowering her hand. ¡°James? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking,¡± he said, his tone cautious but firm. ¡°If this is a trap¡ªand it probably is¡ªit¡¯s better if we stick together.¡± Her mind immediately went to Henderson. Her voice turned sharp. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s always talking about how smart your brother is. What if he¡¯s using _you_ to get to me?¡± There was a long pause. When James finally spoke, his voice was softer. ¡°Didn¡¯t think of that. I guess I¡¯ll take that as a no.¡± Jennifer bit her lip, debating whether to send him away. James sounded sincere¡ªscared, even. She sighed heavily. ¡°Wait.¡± She crept to the door and opened it just a crack, enough to see James¡¯s face. Her other hand stayed raised, claws extended and ready to strike if anything went wrong. James flinched slightly at the sight of her claws. ¡°You sure about this?¡± he asked, his expression a mix of concern and hesitation. ¡°No,¡± Jennifer admitted, stepping back to let him in. ¡°But come in anyway.¡± James stepped inside, his eyes scanning the small apartment. He gave a faint, lopsided smile. ¡°Almost as small as my place.¡± Jennifer snorted softly, already sitting back down on her bed. ¡°Yeah, the minimalist ¡®barely livable¡¯ aesthetic. It¡¯s very in right now.¡± She nudged the second stool toward him with her foot. ¡°Sit.¡± He hesitated for a moment before lowering himself onto the stool. His movements were stiff, like he was trying to suppress whatever tension was roiling inside him. His hands came to rest on his knees, but Jennifer noticed the subtle trembling in his fingers. She didn¡¯t say anything, though her eyes lingered on them for a moment. Instead, she stood, walking over to the closet. She rummaged around, pulling out a folded bedsheet. Without ceremony, she tossed it toward him. ¡°Here,¡± she said, brushing her hands off as if she¡¯d just handed him something far more cumbersome. ¡°You can sleep on the floor.¡± James caught the sheet mid-air and unfolded it slightly, studying the worn fabric. ¡°Nice,¡± he said with mock admiration. ¡°Luxury treatment.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push it,¡± Jennifer said, sitting back down. James chuckled faintly, but the sound quickly faded. He smoothed the sheet over his lap, his gaze distant. ¡°Thanks,¡± he murmured after a moment. ¡°Not sure I¡¯ll actually get any sleep, though.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Same,¡± Jennifer admitted, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. She clasped her hands together, staring at the floor. ¡°Must be worse for you, though. Knowing it¡¯s your brother.¡± James let out a slow breath, his shoulders sagging slightly. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s... a lot.¡± Jennifer glanced at him, hesitating before speaking. ¡°My parents weren¡¯t great. Always comparing me to my brothers, always making me feel like I wasn¡¯t good enough.¡± She paused, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. ¡°My eldest brother, though... he was the only one who didn¡¯t treat me like crap. If I had someone like your brother in my family...¡± She trailed off, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯d be sick to my core.¡± James¡¯s expression softened, his eyes dropping to the floor. ¡°I get that. ¡°My parents weren¡¯t exactly model citizens, either. Addicts. Barely functioning half the time. My brother kept them alive. To them, he was... I don¡¯t know, their savior or something. They thought he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. And me?¡± He let out a humorless laugh. ¡°I was just extra. The spare kid they didn¡¯t know what to do with.¡± Jennifer gaze fixed on him. She was surprised by how candid he was, the rawness in his tone. ¡°That¡¯s rough,¡± she said, her voice softer than before. James shrugged, his hands gripping the edge of the stool. ¡°Yeah. But I guess we don¡¯t get to pick family, right?¡± Jennifer leaned back slightly, crossing her arms. ¡°True. It doesn¡¯t mean you have to let them define you.¡± James glanced up at her, a flicker of something¡ªgratitude, maybe¡ªcrossing his face. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said simply, as if the word carried more weight than it seemed. The room fell into a comfortable silence. Jennifer stretched her legs out, leaning her head back against the wall. The night stretched on, the silence punctuated by the faint hum of the city outside. The morning sunlight streamed weakly through the window, casting a pale glow over the room. Jennifer stirred first, blinking groggily before sitting up. She glanced over to see James sprawled on the floor, snoring softly, the bedsheet tangled around his legs. She crouched beside him and gave his shoulder a light shake. ¡°Hey. Wake up.¡± James groaned, cracking one eye open. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°Time to get moving,¡± Jennifer said, standing and stretching. ¡°Still alive, by the way.¡± James sat up, rubbing his face. ¡°Yeah. Guess we made it through the night.¡± "I think I''m almost being convinced that your brother got fucked by that dragon-man. Anyway, want to get something to eat?" Jennifer asked. "Fucked...? Oh like killed. Yeah, I wouldn''t mind eating. You cook? You don''t really give that vibes." "I don''t know how to cook. I eat out, always." "Oh... Huh. Hm. Wow." "I feel like I''m being judged... but maybe it''s just my imagination..." She said with a glare. "Def your imagination." --- They found a small diner a few blocks away, a place that smelled of coffee, and grease. It wasn¡¯t fancy, but it was the kind of spot that promised hot food and strong coffee, which was all they needed. A waitress approached, balancing a tray and a notepad. She was in her forties, with kind eyes and a no-nonsense attitude. ¡°Morning,¡± she said. ¡°What¡¯ll it be?¡± Jennifer glanced at James, who shrugged. ¡°Just coffee for me,¡± he said. Jennifer ordered a full breakfast¡ªeggs, bacon, and toast¡ªthen added a coffee for herself. She could actually afford to eat like a normal person now. She wanted to save up as much money as possible but at the last second she thought, ''fuck it.'' Treating herself a little bit when she could die tomorrow wasn''t a bad thing. ¡°Coming right up,¡± the waitress said, scribbling on her notepad before disappearing into the kitchen. The two sat in silence for a while, the restaurant''s din filling the void. Jennifer tapped her fingers on the table, her thoughts elsewhere. James asked, "It kinda baffles me that people actually eat eggs. If you think about it, it''s kinda like eating menstruation of--" Jennifer summoned her claws and jabbed them in his direction. "Respectfully, shut up." He slowly nodded. Jennifer withdrew her claws and James said in a single breath, "Of-a-chicken. Kinda-nasty-kinda-gross." She made an expression of cringe. "I liked it when you seemed like a super serious guy." "I like sharing what I think when I get a little comfortable with people." "You don''t say..." The waitress returned with their coffee, placing the cups in front of them. ¡°Food¡¯ll be out in a bit,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Thanks,¡± James said, wrapping his hands around the mug. He glanced at Jennifer, noticing she hadn¡¯t touched hers. ¡°Not a coffee person?¡± ¡°Normally, yeah,¡± she said, stirring the cup absentmindedly. Jennifer stared into the dark liquid. The waitress returned a moment later, setting Jennifer¡¯s plate down in front of her. The smell was enticing¡ªcrispy bacon, buttery toast, perfectly scrambled eggs¡ªbut as Jennifer took a bite, the food felt hollow. James watched her, frowning slightly. ¡°Not hungry?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Jennifer said, shaking her head. ¡°It just tastes bland." Chapter 15: Burning Connections Jennifer stared at the plate in front of her, the edges still warm from the food she¡¯d been so eager to eat. The eggs were fluffy, the bacon crispy, and the toast perfectly buttered. Everything looked perfect, like the kind of meal she used to dream about. But the taste¡­ Each bite was dry and lifeless, as if the food itself had given up on trying. She chewed slowly, forcing herself to swallow, but her stomach twisted in disappointment. She pushed the plate forward and sat back, staring at it as though willing it to have tasted better. It was more than the meal¡ªit was the disappointment of this. She hadn¡¯t eaten a meal like this in forever. For years, she¡¯d survived on bland rations or quick bites that barely kept her moving. The promise of real food had seemed like a brief light in the dark, but it had fizzled out the second she tasted it. The thought took her back, to a time when life felt just as dull and flavorless. She¡¯d worked in a crappy shop, spending her days shelving dusty items and dealing with rude customers. Every morning, she¡¯d drag herself out of bed, feeling like there was no point. The depression had sunk its claws deep. She barely had the energy to get through the day and didn¡¯t want to talk to anyone. Her frustration had boiled over into a sharp, cutting rudeness, one she¡¯d never completely shaken. James noticed. ¡°Not hungry?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± she muttered, pushing the plate slightly away. ¡°It just doesn¡¯t taste right.¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°Tastes fine to me. Maybe your taste buds are broken.¡± Jennifer gave him a dry look. ¡°Thanks, doctor. Real helpful.¡± He shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. ¡°Stress, maybe? Messes with everything.¡± Jennifer leaned back in her seat, arms crossed. ¡°Maybe. Or maybe it¡¯s just me. Been like that since I was working at a shop." James set his coffee down, tilting his head. ¡°You? In retail? Somehow, I don¡¯t see it.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± she shot back. He smirked faintly. ¡°Because you¡¯d scare off all the customers.¡± Jennifer almost laughed but caught herself, her expression flickering. ¡°Yeah, well, I did. I was miserable. Barely had energy to get through the day, didn¡¯t want to talk to anyone. And when I did talk, I was rude as hell. That part¡¯s... kind of stuck.¡± ¡°Could¡¯ve fooled me,¡± James said with mock surprise. ¡°You¡¯re a ray of sunshine.¡± Jennifer snorted, a small grin tugging at her lips. ¡°Shut up.¡± They fell into silence again, the weight of everything creeping back between them. Jennifer fiddled with her napkin, while James stared into his coffee. ¡°What now?¡± he asked eventually. Jennifer shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t think going near a gate is smart until we figure out what¡¯s going on with Henderson.¡± James nodded slowly. ¡°Yeah. Last thing we need is to get blindsided.¡± The waitress approached, breaking the tension. She collected their plates, pausing as her gaze lingered on James. ¡°You look familiar,¡± she said, tilting her head. James stiffened slightly. ¡°Do I?¡± The waitress studied him, her expression sharpening with recognition. ¡°Yeah. You... You¡¯re Henderson¡¯s brother, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jennifer¡¯s hand stilled, her fingers tightening on her coffee cup. She glanced at James, whose jaw tensed before he answered. ¡°Yeah.¡± The waitress¡¯s face softened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss. When I saw what they were bringing back to the Hub, I was frightened.¡± Jennifer frowned, leaning forward. ¡°You saw his corpse?¡± Slayers¡¯ bodies¡­ They¡¯re never covered. No matter how ruined they are. Civilians are forced to see how much slayers sacrifice for them. If not for them, they¡¯d have to worry about gates festering, growing, and spilling monsters into the city in mass. The anti-gate spheres above the city protected them only from gates appearing within its bounds, not from monsters wandering in from the outside.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! She sighed. ¡°It was burned all the way to the bones." Jennifer felt a cold knot form in her stomach. Burned to the bones. Her thoughts snapped to the enforcers at the Hub, their talk of fire and a ¡°dragon-man.¡± The texts made by fire, the burns she feels by the key. Fire. It wasn¡¯t a coincidence. James exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. His shoulders slumped, and he seemed to deflate, like a weight had just been lifted off him. ¡°So he¡¯s really dead,¡± he muttered, almost to himself. Jennifer watched him closely. His reaction was different from what she expected¡ªless relief, more disbelief. She leaned forward. ¡°James?¡± He didn¡¯t respond, his eyes distant. The waitress, sensing the tension, offered a polite nod and walked away, leaving them alone. Jennifer stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. ¡°I need to go to a gate,¡± she said. ¡°You should come. Fighting and killing¡ªit helps. Relieves stress.¡± James looked up at her, blinking as if he¡¯d just come out of a trance. He shook his head slowly. ¡°He¡¯s really dead,¡± he muttered again, almost as if he didn¡¯t believe it. Jennifer hesitated. The fire in her voice died down. She hadn¡¯t considered what James might be feeling. For all Henderson¡¯s faults, he was still James¡¯s brother. Her chest tightened with guilt. She thought of her brother, Heath, how he¡¯d always been the one to sit with her, ask her what was wrong, and talk her through it. She wasn¡¯t Heath. But she could try. ¡°Do you¡­¡± she began, her voice softer. ¡°Do you want to drink? To his death, I mean.¡± James looked up at her, his face unreadable. ¡°Drink?¡± Jennifer scratched the back of her neck, suddenly unsure. ¡°Yeah. I mean, people grieve in all kinds of ways, right? Even if he was a... well, an evil bastard, you still lost someone. Do you want to drink to him?¡± For a moment, James said nothing. Then he let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Yeah. I think I do. I don¡¯t even know how to feel. I always thought I¡¯d die an old man with him still looming over me. And now he¡¯s gone. Just... randomly. It¡¯s... I don¡¯t know.¡± He shook his head, leaning forward. ¡°You got alcohol? It¡¯s expensive to buy.¡± Jennifer smirked faintly. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got some. Saved up for months back when I couldn¡¯t afford it. You¡¯ll see.¡± --- Back at her apartment, Jennifer opened the cabinet above the sink and pulled out a dusty bottle of amber liquor. She grabbed two mismatched cups from the counter and set them on the table. James eyed the bottle. ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding about saving up. That thing¡¯s ancient.¡± Jennifer cracked it open, the sharp, almost medicinal smell filling the air. She poured generously into both cups, filling them to the brim. James stared at his cup. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a lot.¡± Jennifer picked up her own cup, staring into it. ¡°I like the way it burns,¡± she said quietly before tipping it back and downing the entire thing in one go. The burn hit her immediately, a sharp heat that spread down her throat and into her chest. She coughed, groaning as she slammed the empty cup onto the table. James hesitated, then took his own cup and followed her lead. The moment the liquor hit him, he choked, doubling over as he coughed violently. ¡°What the hell?¡± he rasped, his voice raw. ¡°That¡¯s awful.¡± Jennifer grinned, her voice still raspy. ¡°I never said it was good.¡± James glared at her, though his lips twitched into a faint smile. ¡°This isn¡¯t funny.¡± Jennifer leaned back in her chair, a small chuckle escaping her. ¡°It is from where I¡¯m sitting.¡± She paused, her expression softening. ¡°You know, I used to wish I had someone to drink with. When I was sixteen, I¡¯d pour two cups and pretend I was talking to someone else.¡± Jennifer laughed, like she just shared a funny part of herself. James stared at her, his brow furrowing. ¡°You must¡¯ve been seriously lonely.¡± She continued laughing for a while. Then the laughter faded, her throat tightened, and her eyes stung. She tried to fight it, but the tears came anyway, sliding down her cheeks in hot, silent streams. Jennifer¡¯s sobs eventually slowed, the heavy weight in her chest easing just enough for her to pull herself together. She wiped at her cheeks, sniffling, and sat up straight, avoiding James¡¯s gaze. ¡°Forget that happened,¡± she muttered. James leaned back slightly, his expression neutral but not unkind. ¡°You sure? If you want to talk about it... I¡¯m a decent listener.¡± Jennifer shook her head firmly, her lips pressing into a thin line. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± she said, though her voice wavered slightly. ¡°Just had a moment. Happens to everyone, right?¡± James studied her for a long moment, then gave a small nod. ¡°If you¡¯re sure,¡± he said, his tone making it clear he didn¡¯t entirely believe her. Jennifer was about to thank him for dropping the subject when a sharp, sudden heat flared across her back. It wasn¡¯t overwhelming, but it was unmistakable. The familiar burn of the Key of Everything. Her breath hitched. Time seemed to slow. The room dimmed, the edges of her vision blurring as the heat intensified¡ªnot painful, but insistent. It felt... directional, like the fire wasn¡¯t just burning aimlessly but pointing her somewhere. Her body turned almost involuntarily, her head snapping toward the far wall. The burning fire became a guiding pull. Then, just as suddenly as it began, the world snapped back to normal. The room brightened, and the faint sound of the city outside returned. Jennifer blinked, her breath shallow as she found herself staring blankly at the wall. ¡°Jennifer?¡± James¡¯s voice broke through the haze. ¡°You okay?¡± She swallowed, nodding quickly. ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, her tone too quick and unconvincing. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just... need to sit for a minute.¡± Her knees felt shaky as she lowered herself back into the chair. The burn hadn¡¯t faded¡ªin fact, it grew stronger by the second, a steady, relentless thrum against her back. James frowned, leaning forward. ¡°You don¡¯t look fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she repeated, more sharply this time, but her hand tightened around the edge of the table. The heat continued to build. Jennifer gritted her teeth, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. The Key of Everything was pulling her, urging her, and she knew from experience that ignoring it wouldn¡¯t make it stop. But the idea of going wherever it wanted her to go filled her with dread. She couldn¡¯t. Not now. James reached out tentatively. ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s going on? You¡¯re sweating like crazy.¡± Jennifer shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just... give me a second. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Chapter 16: Hard Hearted Jennifer clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms as she tried to endure the searing pain radiating from the Key of Everything. It was relentless, a firestorm burning just beneath her skin, growing stronger with each passing moment. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay seated, but her breath came in shallow, rapid bursts. James stood nearby, his concerned gaze fixed on her. ¡°There''s something wrong. You clearly need a doctor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she snapped, though her voice wavered. She wasn¡¯t fine. The burn wasn¡¯t subsiding. If anything, it was intensifying, demanding she move, now. Her body gave in before her mind could. She shot to her feet, the chair scraping violently against the floor as she rushed to her bed. She dropped to her knees, yanking out her armor and gauntlets. Her movements were frantic, her hands fumbling as she pulled out each piece and began strapping them on. ¡°Jennifer!¡± James shouted, stepping closer. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Just¡ªdon¡¯t!¡± she barked, barely glancing at him as she snapped her gauntlets into place. ¡°Yeah, you weren''t joking about being rude. You''re kinda an asshole, you know that?¡± he shouted, following her as she bolted toward the door, fully armored now. ¡°Where are you going?!¡± She ignored him, bursting out of the apartment and onto the street. The burning subsided almost instantly, fading to a faint sting that pointed like a compass far beyond the city walls. She froze for a moment, gasping for breath, as the clarity of direction settled in her mind. James caught up to her, grabbing her arm. ¡°Jennifer, stop! Talk to me! What¡¯s happening?¡± Now that the pain was gone, for the most part, she cared to actually say something. She opened her mouth to answer, but the moment the words formed, the pain exploded in her back, sharper and more agonizing than before. Her vision blurred as the world around her froze, locking everything in a suffocating stillness. It was the same as when she¡¯d almost told James about her skill. Time snapped back into motion, and Jennifer stumbled slightly, steadying herself on a nearby wall. She gasped, clutching at her chest, and managed to choke out, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you.¡± James looked at her, his frustration mounting. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me? What does that even mean?¡± ¡°It means I¡¯m confused too,¡± she said. She straightened, her armor clinking faintly as she stepped away from him. ¡°And it means you can¡¯t follow me. This could be dangerous.¡± James stepped in front of her, blocking her path. ¡°Seems like it¡¯s dangerous for you too,¡± he said, his tone low but firm. ¡°Whatever¡¯s going on, it¡¯s not normal. You¡¯re running out of the city in full armor and refusing to explain why.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Jennifer stared at him, her frustration boiling just beneath the surface. ¡°James, please. Don¡¯t make this harder.¡± ¡°Harder how?¡± he said simply, his jaw set. "I don''t have time nor the pain tolerance to argue with you..." Without another word, she turned, used hyper movement to get out of his reach, and started running, the faint sting in her back leading her like a beacon. "Damn it!" James followed his footsteps close behind. --- The switch between jogging and walking was grueling. James stayed close, his footsteps steady despite his own exhaustion. He didn¡¯t complain, but his face was lined with determination. Jennifer spun around, her frustration boiling over. ¡°Why are you still following me?¡± she snapped, her voice echoing through the trees. James slowed to a stop, his brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I told you to go back, James. This isn¡¯t your problem.¡± James crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. ¡°And I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± Jennifer let out an exasperated laugh. *Fuck is wrong with people...* She said, ¡°Why? What¡¯s the point? You¡¯re just making things harder for yourself. You have no idea what you''re walking into...¡± ¡°Maybe not,¡± James shot back, his voice rising. ¡°But I¡¯m not going to just walk away when¡ª¡± ¡°When what?¡± she interrupted, taking a step closer. ¡°When I¡¯m doing something reckless and stupid? Yeah, that¡¯s why you should leave. Let me deal with it!¡± James shook his head, his voice softening but losing none of its conviction. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you? Why are you so against someone concerned about you?¡± Jennifer scoffed, her hands clenching into fists. ¡°Because it doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± James blinked, caught off guard. ¡°What?¡± ¡°In this specific case, where I''m not able to tell anything, it doesn''t make sense.¡± she clarified, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°Why are you doing this to yourself? Why do you care so much? You barely even know me!¡± James¡¯s confusion deepened. Her frustration spilled over. ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever thought about how insane this is? You¡¯re out here, running yourself into the ground, chasing after someone you¡¯ve barely met. Why? Just why? Am I just that pretty, huh?¡± James hesitated, his expression softening as he studied her. ¡°Have you ever had someone who gave a single fuck about you?¡± Jennifer flinched, the question hitting harder than she expected. She clenched her teeth, her voice coming out sharp. ¡°Of course I have. My brother was always there for me. But that¡¯s different.¡± She jabbed a finger toward him. ¡°That¡¯s blood. You¡¯re just...¡± She faltered for a moment, searching for the right words. ¡°You¡¯re just someone I met, James. I¡¯m not your responsibility. I¡¯m not your problem. Do you feel indebted to me? For what? You were the one that warned me and saved me against your brother. I owe you, so please don''t put yourself in harm''s way for no reason.¡± James¡¯s expression hardened slightly, but his voice stayed calm. ¡°You¡¯re not just ¡®someone I met." Jennifer blinked, her anger momentarily giving way to surprise. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± James said, his tone quiet but steady. ¡°You¡¯re the only person I¡¯ve ever felt like I could talk to. Or... could hopefully get along with. I¡¯ve never had a friend. Ever. It was just me and my brother. And he wasn¡¯t exactly a ¡®talk about your feelings¡¯ kind of guy. I want to be your friend because I don''t have any friends.¡± Jennifer stared at him, the fire in her chest briefly giving way to something softer. His words caught her off guard. She didn¡¯t respond. She couldn¡¯t. Instead, she turned and resumed walking, the sting in her back pulling her onward. James followed a few steps behind, his voice breaking the silence. ¡°Try opening your heart a bit.¡± Jennifer¡¯s pace faltered slightly, but she didn¡¯t turn around. She didn¡¯t say anything, her gaze fixed ahead as the terrain stretched endlessly before them. Chapter 17: Save The World, bit by bit James said nothing more, and the only sounds that followed were the crunch of their footsteps and the wind rustling through the trees. Jennifer¡¯s body protested as the hours dragged on, her breathing ragged. She had to stop multiple times, leaning against ugly trees or rocks to catch her breath. James didn¡¯t complain, though he was visibly exhausted as well. After six hours, they finally crested a hill and saw it. A gate. But not like any gate Jennifer had seen before. The usual swirling vortex was there, but it was a massive twister composed entirely of flames. It spun violently. Jennifer¡¯s heart went cold. ¡°James said, his voice filled with equal parts awe and fear. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of these... Fire Twisters. You must have too. But they¡¯re rare. And¡ª¡± He paused, his eyes narrowing. ¡°How did you even know to come here?¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t answer. She didn¡¯t *couldn''t* answer. She didn''t want to get close to that twister. But she knew if she refused to go near it, the burning pain would return and consume her. As she hesitated, the twister seemed to react. It spun faster, and suddenly, smaller twisters of flame broke off and shot toward her. ¡°Run!¡± James shouted, grabbing her arm and pulling her to the side as the fire twisters descended. Jennifer stumbled, her mind racing. Fire twisters were supposed to be no different than normal gates. Researchers had studied them extensively and found nothing unusual. But there had to be a reason why the Key led her to it. One of the twisters caught them. Jennifer braced for the searing heat, but there was none. Instead, they were spun violently, the world around them dissolving into a blur of flame and motion. When the spinning stopped, they found themselves standing in an entirely different place. --- Jennifer blinked, her head spinning as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. She was in a building. The polished floors, fluorescent lights, and rows of lockers stood out. The sound of screaming jolted her. Students in black and white uniforms were running through the hallways, their faces pale with fear. Some of them bumped into Jennifer and James as they fled, their panicked voices blending into a chaotic roar. There was also ongoing emer ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± James muttered. A teacher spotted them and froze, her expression shifting from confusion to alarm. ¡°What are you doing in¡ª¡± she started, but her voice rose to a shriek. ¡°RUN!¡± Jennifer and James exchanged a look, but before they could ask what was happening, Jennifer noticed the floor beneath her begin to glow. Burning letters seared themselves into the tiles, forming words in front of her. Jennifer Paall. You were secretly chosen for something great. Prevent other worlds from becoming monster wastelands. The words burned away, leaving faint scorch marks on the tile. Jennifer stood frozen. ¡°Secretly chosen? Other worlds? Monster wastelands?¡± she muttered under her breath. James, meanwhile, wasn¡¯t nearly as composed. He grimaced, covering his ears as the emergency bells blared through the building. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He growled, glancing around for the source. Jennifer barely registered his words, her mind spinning. Why wasn¡¯t she in a Gate realm? Why was she among people? Civilians? Students? She could see them running past in a blur, their faces pale with panic. The better question hit her like a hammer: Why are they panicking? She came to a quick conclusion, using the context clues of what the key just told her. Monsters. James¡¯s frustrated shout snapped her out of her thoughts. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± he yelled. A glimmer of light appeared in his hand as he summoned a silver disk. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it hurtling toward one of the speakers in the hallway. The disk sliced through the device, silencing the alarm with a sharp crack. ¡°Better,¡± he muttered, though he still looked shaken. "Jennifer tell me what the hell is going on?¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t answer. She grabbed a panicking boy who looked about sixteen. He had golden eyes, sharp elf-like ears, and eyes that flicked between terror and confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where¡¯s the source of all this panic?¡± ¡°Let go, freak!¡± the boy shouted, thrashing against her grip. ¡°Answer me so I can help you!¡± Jennifer snapped, shaking him slightly. The boy¡¯s terror only grew, and he pointed toward the distance with a trembling hand. ¡°The school gates! Outside! It¡¯s¡ªit¡¯s a bunch of weird monster things!¡± Jennifer released him, and the boy bolted without looking back. James stepped closer, his face a mask of confusion and worry. ¡°Jennifer, what the hell is this?¡± She turned to him, her expression hardening. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to save this world.¡± James stared at her like she¡¯d lost her mind. ¡°Save this world?¡± he repeated, incredulous. ¡°What are you even talking about? This doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡± Jennifer grabbed his arm, her voice low and urgent. ¡°I warned you, James. Over and over, I told you there were risks. I didn¡¯t want you to come, but you did. So now you¡¯re here, and this is what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± James frowned, her words sinking in. ¡°... Okay.¡± They moved against the stream of students running in the opposite direction. The stairs ahead were packed with panicked kids pushing and shouting as they tried to get to higher floors. Jennifer didn¡¯t hesitate, veering toward a nearby window instead. She turned back to James briefly. ¡°Follow me.¡± Without waiting for a response, she jumped through the window, the glass shattering around her as she plummeted toward the ground below. Her claws spun out, catching the building¡¯s wall as she dug in, sliding down with controlled precision. *Holy freaking shit. I really just did that.* James followed with a grunt of annoyance, summoning a silver disk under his feet. He lowered himself slowly, crafting additional disks beneath him as he descended. He glanced down and created one for Jennifer to leap onto, letting her spring to the ground safely. The schoolyard sprawled before them, wide and chaotic. The smell of earth and wet dirt filled the air, along with the coppery tang of blood. Jennifer¡¯s heart sank as she took in the scene. About fourteen human-sized goats made entirely of mud were storming the building. Their horns stretched nearly a meter long, their bodies glistening with wet earth. Some of the creatures were climbing walls, and others charging toward the school entrance. Jennifer¡¯s eyes flicked to the ground. Several bodies lay still, their faces and heads covered in hardened mud. Near the entrance, three security guards were firing at the creatures, but the bullets had little effect. The mud absorbed the shots like sponges, leaving only faint holes that quickly filled in. Jennifer and James landed near the guards, who immediately turned their attention to the newcomers. ¡°What the hell?¡± one of them shouted, his eyes darting to Jennifer and James¡¯s armor and weapons. ¡°Is this some kind of cosplay day? Get out of here!¡± "This isn''t a time for games!" Jennifer didn¡¯t bother responding. She looked at the handguns in their hand. It was her first time seeing something like it. One of the mud goats charged, its hooves slamming against the pavement as it barreled toward a guard. He tried to fire, but his gun jammed, leaving him wide open. "Shit!" Jennifer darted forward, her hyper-movement activating in a burst of speed. In a flash, she intercepted the creature, her claws sinking into its muddy neck. The goat thrashed violently, trying to shake her off, its horns slicing through the air dangerously close to her face. ¡°Stay down,¡± she snarled, tightening her grip. The mud resisted, clinging to her claws like tar, but she kept slashing with her other hand, each strike digging deeper into its form. With a final vicious pull, the creature¡¯s head tore free, its body collapsing into a pile of wet earth. James watched her, momentarily stunned by the ferocity of her movements. ¡°You fight like a damn wild animal,¡± he said, stunned. He summoned six glowing silver disks, his limit, and sent them spinning through the air toward the approaching creatures. The disks sliced through the mud goats with precision, severing limbs and horns. One of the creatures collapsed entirely, its body reduced to chunks of mud, but the others pressed forward undeterred. Jennifer wiped mud from her gauntlet, her breathing steady despite the intensity of the fight. ¡°James, keep them back!¡± ¡°On it!¡± he shouted, redirecting his disks toward the creatures climbing the walls. She crouched low, pushing her claws to the max. It grew wider and longer surpassing six inches in length, and two inches in width. Then she got hit with something heavy. The force sent her into a wall. She gasped in pain and then looked down. There was a massive splat of mud on her. She looked up, and a barrage of mud balls fired at them. Chapter 18: Powered up The mud blasts pelted toward Jennifer like cannonballs. She raised her gauntleted arms instinctively, bracing herself. Each impact sent tremors through her body, the dense mud striking with the force of a sledgehammer. She staggered back, her muscles burning from the sheer force. Then one mud blast caught her square in the head. The dense, suffocating mass clung to her face, covering her nose and mouth. Jennifer¡¯s lungs screamed for air as panic surged through her. She clawed desperately at the mud. It felt like trying to peel off wet cement. Her vision blurred, her thoughts turning hazy until her claws managed to carve out a gap wide enough to gasp for breath. Her relief was short-lived. A mud goat charged straight at her, its elongated horns gleaming like sharpened spears. Jennifer barely had time to react. She raised her arms in defense, crossing them over her chest. The goat¡¯s horn slammed into her gauntlets with a deafening _clang_, the sheer force driving her backward. She felt the sharp edges graze her armor, threatening to pierce through. She gritted her teeth as she was pitched to the side, and rolled across the ground. She forced herself up, her eyes locking on the mud goat as it prepared for another charge. Two more were closing in fast. Jennifer dashed to the side, her boots skidding on the grassy terrain as she narrowly avoided a second set of horns. Her mind raced. These things were relentless. In the distance, James ran frantically, his silver disks spinning and slicing through the air relentlessly. A couple of them cleaved through a mud goat¡¯s neck, but the effort it took was immense. The mud absorbed and reformed around the cuts, requiring him to repeatedly send disks to finish the job. ¡°Jennifer!¡± he shouted, panic lacing his voice. ¡°I¡¯m running out of¡ª¡± ¡°Do your best, I can''t help you at the moment!¡± she said, firing a glob of sticky goo. The substance splattered across the ground behind her, spreading into a sticky trap. One of the charging mud goats slammed into the patch, its hooves sinking deep. It thrashed wildly, but the goo held firm, anchoring it in place. Another goat stumbled and fell as it tried to leap past, getting ensnared by the sticky mess. Jennifer seized the opportunity, sprinting toward the first goat. Her claws gleamed as she slashed into its neck, the mud clinging stubbornly to her strikes. She growled, forcing her claws deeper, using every ounce of her strength. The mud goat let out a guttural, inhuman sound as its form began to break apart. Without hesitation, she pressed her hand on the goat and began to absorb the creature¡¯s ability.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. When she was done, it finally collapsed. Her back arched, and a fiery sensation surged through her. It was like the key inside her was expanding, but the pain wasn¡¯t overwhelming. It ended swiftly, leaving behind a surge of raw power. Jennifer exhaled, feeling her muscles tighten, her movements sharper and more fluid. She didn¡¯t have time to marvel at the transformation. Another mud goat lunged at her, its horns aiming for her chest. She swiped once, her claws slicing through half its neck. A second strike severed the rest cleanly. Holy... HOLY SHIT! Now this is a power up! A wild grin spread across her face. This newfound strength was a game changer. Jennifer launched into hyper movement, her body a blur as she darted between the remaining stuck mud goats. In less than three seconds, she cleaved through eight of them, her claws a whirlwind of destruction. James stared in disbelief, struggling to fend off the remaining creatures. His disks moved slower now, and his breathing was labored. He summoned another disk, but it flickered weakly, the strain of his efforts catching up with him. One of the mud goats broke away, its eyes locked on James. It crept behind him, preparing to pounce. ¡°James, duck!¡± Jennifer shouted. He dropped to the ground just as Jennifer fired a concentrated blast of mud. The projectile hurtled through the air, striking the goat square in the head. The mud spread across the goat¡¯s face, blinding it and causing its movements to falter. The creature reared back, thrashing in confusion as it tried to shake off the sticky substance. Jennifer didn¡¯t hesitate. She lunged forward, her gauntleted fists already raised. With a feral growl, she brought them down on the mud goat¡¯s head with crushing force. The wet, compacted mud buckled under the repeated strikes, chunks flying with each blow. ¡°Stay. Down!¡± she snarled, driving her fists into the creature. The goat let out a final guttural noise before its head collapsed entirely under her assault, the rest of its body crumbling into an inert pile of mud. Jennifer stepped back, her gauntlets coated in wet earth, breathing heavily. Yeah... this is way more fun than using my claws... James scrambled to his feet, panting hard. ¡°Thanks,¡± he muttered, glancing at her with wide eyes. Jennifer gave him a nod before turning her attention back to the remaining five mud goats. They charged in unison, their heavy hooves thundering against the ground. Jennifer aimed carefully, firing another volley of sticky goo at their feet. The creatures stumbled and fell, snarling and thrashing as they became trapped. But claws are faster. Jennifer moved in swiftly, her claws flashing as she took them down one by one. Each swipe was deliberate, two strikes for each goat¡¯s neck, until the last one collapsed into a pile of inert mud. She stood amidst the carnage, her chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through her veins. James approached cautiously, his disks floating weakly around him. ¡°I''m not crazy. But did you just use three different kinds of powers?¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t answer immediately. "No. You''re just seeing things." He was confused. "Does this have to do with... you being pulled to this world? The flame tornado." Jennifer was surprised. She never expected him to come to that conclusion, not so fast. But it didn''t really matter since she couldn''t answer him. "You... killed them all?" Two of the surviving security guards that had retreated into the school said, baffled. Jennifer gestured at James. "He did a lot of the work too." "You two look different than us and have these powers..." He dropped to his knee like he had experienced a revelation. "Gods. They must be real! You must have been sent by the gods to save us!" Chapter 19: An Ignorant World Jennifer narrowed her eyes at the guards kneeling before her. Their reverent expressions felt misplaced, almost surreal. She let out a breath, steadying her voice as she asked, ¡°Why would you think gods sent us?¡± The lead guard hesitated, his face a mixture of awe and fear. ¡°You appeared out of nowhere, with powers beyond our comprehension. You¡¯ve saved us from these... things.¡± He gestured at the heap of lifeless monsters. ¡°Only gods could do such a thing.¡± Jennifer''s brow furrowed. ¡°Gods? Seriously?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Where are your slayers? To let a gate open and not have anyone on standby... that¡¯s insane.¡± ¡°Slayers?¡± the guard echoed. ¡°What¡¯s a slayer?¡± Jennifer¡¯s lips parted, and for a moment, she was at a loss. ¡°You don¡¯t know what a slayer is? Or a gate?¡± The guards exchanged puzzled looks. Before they could answer, James stepped closer, his tone incredulous. ¡°Alright, forget that term. What do you call people who kill monsters? You know, trained fighters, specialists, anyone who handles this kind of thing?¡± The guards looked even more confused. One of them muttered, ¡°No one.¡± The lead guard turned to his companion. ¡°Do you think the king has created a new agency? Like... secret soldiers or something?¡± The other guard shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve heard nothing about that. And this¡ª¡± He motioned at the carnage. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve even seen these creatures up close. I thought they were just... myths.¡± Jennifer crossed her arms, disbelief written all over her face. ¡°You thought they were myths? How could you not know about these things when they¡¯re literally tearing your world apart?¡± The lead guard stiffened. ¡°We¡¯ve heard stories, but that¡¯s all they were¡ªstories. No one¡¯s ever actually seen them before.¡± James cut in, his frustration boiling over. ¡°What do you mean stories? You live here, right? You¡¯re telling me no one¡¯s ever prepared for... this?¡± He gestured at the crumbled remains of the monsters, his disks faintly glowing with leftover energy. The second guard stammered, ¡°We prepare for wars, invasions, bandits¡ªbut not for creatures that crawl out of... what did you call it? A gate?¡± Jennifer pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°This is unbelievable. If you don¡¯t have slayers, or anyone trained for this kind of thing, then how do you even survive? What happens when more gates show up?¡± ¡°More gates?¡± The lead guard¡¯s confusion deepened. ¡°There¡¯s more than one?¡± ¡°Yes, there¡¯s more than one...¡± Jennifer muttered, then paused, exhaling sharply. ¡°Look... You have to tell your leaders about this.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. James turned to her, incredulous. ¡°Wait, hold on. This doesn¡¯t add up. If they don¡¯t have slayers and don¡¯t even know about gates, how the hell are they still alive?¡± Jennifer was already piecing it together, her thoughts racing. ¡°They¡¯re not. Not really. They¡¯ve just been lucky so far. No slayers, no gates, no framework. They¡¯re defenseless.¡± Her voice grew quieter as the realization sank in. ¡°They¡¯re just food for monsters.¡± The guards exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether they should feel insulted or terrified. James sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Alright, so you¡¯re saying this is their first time dealing with monsters? Ever?¡± The first guard nodded hesitantly. ¡°Yes. I thought we made that clear...¡± Jennifer opened her mouth to reply but froze as a strange heat flared behind her. She spun around, eyes narrowing at the school wall. Flames crawled across the surface, forming words that shimmered in the dim light: Your mission is done. You have reduced the population of monsters on this Talar by 1%. You can return to home... by saying so. James followed her gaze. ¡°What are you staring at?¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t answer immediately, her eyes locked on the burning message. When it fizzled out and left the wall pristine, she glanced at him. ¡°You didn¡¯t see that?¡± ¡°See what?¡± James looked back at the wall, confusion etched on his face. ¡°There¡¯s nothing there.¡± "I got a message from the Key." "Oh that makes sense. Mines take a bit longer to fade away." The first guard¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°Is... everything alright?¡± She turned back to him, her tone softer. ¡°Yeah. Look, just take care of yourselves. I¡¯m sorry we didn¡¯t get here sooner. Maybe we could¡¯ve saved more of you.¡± The guard straightened, shaking his head. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize. If not for you, none of us would¡¯ve made it.¡± Jennifer offered a faint smile, then turned to James and grabbed his hand. He blinked. ¡°Uh, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Take us back to home,¡± she said firmly. James stared at her, baffled. ¡°What?¡± Before he could protest further, flames roared to life beneath them. He yelped, stumbling back, but Jennifer held tight to his hand. The fire climbed their legs, engulfing them completely. ¡°It¡¯s not burning us,¡± Jennifer said calmly, her eyes locked on his panicked face. "Well, not burning me. It might turn you into dust." "W-what?!" Seconds later, the flames vanished. They stood on solid, dry ground¡ªback on Earth. James stared at the empty sky where the fiery twister once loomed over the gate. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± He looked down at his hands, flexing them as if expecting them to still be aflame. ¡°Okay... Okay... No fucking okay! When are you going to explain what¡¯s going on?¡± She exhaled slowly. ¡°I really can¡¯t tell you, like I said before. I¡¯m... not allowed. But I¡¯ll try to explain what I can.¡± She hesitated, then added, ¡°I¡¯m starting to think I¡¯m more special than the usual Key of Everything wielder.¡± ¡°Oh ho?¡± "You really think you can deny it after everything you just experienced?" ... He made a complex expression before saying, "Hm..." Ignoring him, she said, ¡°I¡¯m going to have to do more of this. A lot more.¡± James frowned, his confusion deepening. ¡°More... of these weird worlds that have never been seen before? Are you even listening to yourself?¡± Jennifer turned to him, her expression softening. ¡°I want you with me. If you want to join me.¡± James¡¯s mouth opened and closed as he struggled to process her words. ¡°Join you? This is insane. I don¡¯t even understand half of what¡¯s happening. You¡ªyour powers, this whole... thing you¡¯re involved in¡ªit¡¯s crazy. But...¡± He looked toward the where the gate had vanished. ¡°If those people are as defenseless as they seemed... if they¡¯d all be dead without us...¡± He shook his head, a weary smile tugging at his lips. ¡°It¡¯s kind of hard to say no, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 19: For the Money Jennifer felt a pang of guilt at the resignation in his voice, but he continued. ¡°I want to help. But seriously, you¡¯re confusing as hell. And this¡ªthis is all crazy.¡± He gestured at her. ¡°You¡¯re crazy. And you can¡¯t even talk about it.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said quietly. James sighed. ¡°But yeah. I¡¯ll help.¡± Jennifer nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. Inside, her thoughts swirled. This is the kind of thing I used to dream about. Like I¡¯m the main character in a fantasy story. Me, a savior of worlds... She looked down at her hands, flexing them as if she could grasp the enormity of her situation. Her voice dropped to a near whisper. ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s not entirely about helping people.¡± She hesitated, glancing at James, before continuing. ¡°I want to look back one day and see how far I¡¯ve come. I want to say, ¡®Look at me. Look at what I did.¡¯¡± Her voice grew more resolute. ¡°I want to see the look on my parents¡¯ faces when they realize they were wrong about me. I want to hear Heath say, ¡®I was always right about you not being a disappointment.¡¯ That he¡¯s proud of me. Yeah... They''ll all look at me in fucking awe!¡± She clenched her fists, her jaw tightening. ¡°Just wait...¡± James watched her, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of pity in his eyes. She shook her head and smiled faintly. ¡°Come on. We have a lot to figure out.¡± Jennifer unfolded the Gate map with a snap.. A pulsing darker blue dot caught her attention, drawing her to a gate nearby. ¡°I''m not heading home,¡± she said abruptly, rolling up the map. James blinked. ¡°What? Why not? We just fought an entire herd of goat monsters! Don¡¯t you think we¡¯ve earned a break?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t made money for the day,¡± Jennifer replied, striding forward. He threw up his hands. ¡°Fine, but why do I have to go with you?¡± She glanced back with a smirk. ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± --- It didn''t take long to find the gate. The twister above the gate was darker in color than the ones they usually went in. It was clear it was a level above the beginner-friendly ones. James hesitated, his stomach twisting. ¡°I swear, I¡¯m only doing this to make sure you don¡¯t get yourself killed,¡± he muttered, stepping through after her.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Preciate it!" she said, running into the twister. When it sucked them both in, it through them into a world where the only thing visible to them was a beach. Waves crashed against jagged, obsidian cliffs. The air was salty, sharp, and charged with an electric hum. Strange, metallic fish leaped from the roaring surf, their bodies glinting like polished steel. Jennifer¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I kinda like the fact I don''t know what to expect when I enter a gate.¡± ¡°I hate it.¡± James scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s a death trap.¡± He stayed back, his disks floating weakly at his side. Jennifer ignored him, her claws extending as she dashed into the sea. A metallic two-meter-long fish leaped high, its body twisting mid-air as its skin gleamed with a metallic sheen. Jennifer swiped at it with precision, but her claws only scratched its surface. it appeared they were highly resistant to sharp objects, like their skin suggested. "What the hell?¡± The fish darted toward her, its elongated snout glinting like a blade. She sidestepped, grabbing it mid-lunge. With a swift motion, she slammed it against the rocky stone until its body crumpled. James winced. ¡°That¡¯s... efficient.¡± ¡°They¡¯re easy enough once you get the hang of it.¡± Jennifer held up the fish, examining it before deftly ripping its spine out and stuffing it into her bag. ¡°You seriously don¡¯t want to make some money?¡± James shook his head, keeping a wary distance from the action. ¡°Not against those things. My disk can¡¯t do much against armor like that.¡± Jennifer raised an eyebrow, tossing another fish carcass aside. ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you trying to kill a bunch of weaker ones? Power up a bit.¡± James crossed his arms. ¡°Because it¡¯s a waste of time. If I¡¯m going to level up, I¡¯d rather do it efficiently. Target monsters I can actually handle.¡± Jennifer stopped mid-swing, her claws gleaming in the pale light. ¡°Level up? Is that what you call it?¡± ¡°Or tiering up,¡± James said, shrugging. ¡°Whatever term you prefer.¡± Jennifer paused, considering. ¡°Then I¡¯m at... three, I guess.¡± James sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Figures.¡± Before she could respond, another wave of fish launched themselves at her. Their sharp, metallic bodies glinted as they spun mid-air, aiming their needle-like snouts at her. Jennifer ducked and weaved, clawing and smashing her way through the swarm. Their strikes tore at her armor, shredding it piece by piece. Her skin bore shallow cuts and bruises, but she didn¡¯t slow down. ¡°Your armor¡¯s falling apart!¡± James called, his disks hovering protectively in front of him. ¡°It¡¯s fine!¡± Jennifer yelled back, grabbing a particularly large fish and slamming it into a rock. ¡°That¡¯s not fine!¡± he retorted, watching as more metallic fins shredded what was left of her protection. "It''s definitely fine!" Four hours passed in a blur of chaos and carnage. Jennifer moved with relentless energy, dispatching the fish with a mixture of brute strength and calculated strikes. By then she was a mess off cuts from head to toe, and her armor was no longer. But it was worth it. Her bag swelled to its limits, bulging with spines. She sprinted out of the sea with a dying fish in her hand, its metallic sheen fading as she took its skill. The creature shuddered once before going still. Jennifer straightened, slinging the overstuffed bag over her shoulder. ¡°Time to go.¡± James stepped closer, eyeing the heavy bag. ¡°You haven''t lost too much blood?¡± "Don''t matter... Because I''m about to make a fortune!" "I think it matters..." ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± The two walked towards Earth to exit the gate. The world twisted and spun. They were spat out onto solid ground, the twister dissolving behind them. Jennifer wondered. I''m going to treat myself to a nice apartment... Or maybe I should save my money-- Nah. A Nice apartment. Chapter 20: Making more = Spending more Jennifer shifted her weight from foot to foot, clutching a heavy bag in her hands as she waited her turn in the resources trade line. The air smelled faintly of iron and leather, the murmurs of deals and exchanges punctuated by the occasional bark of laughter or clink of coins. Finally, her turn arrived. She stepped forward, setting her bag on the wide counter in front of her with a dull thud. The man behind the counter, a veteran with a scar running across his cheek, glanced up from his ledger. His eyebrows arched at the sight of her. He tugged the drawstring on the bag and peered inside. His eyes widened. ¡°Silver longfish?¡± He blinked, looking from her to the bag. ¡°Already? You just started as a Slayer.¡± Jennifer straightened her shoulders, her face calm and unreadable. ¡°I worked hard,¡± she said simply. The man raised a skeptical eyebrow but didn¡¯t push further. He emptied the contents of the bag onto the counter, carefully arranging the spines onto a scale. ¡°That¡¯s a lot,¡± he muttered, his tone betraying a hint of respect. After a pause, he tallied the weight, scribbled a note in his ledger, and then reached into the cash box. ¡°Ten silver coins,¡± he said, pushing the stack toward her. Jennifer stared at the coins, her heart skipping. Ten silver coins. That was more money than she¡¯d ever seen at once. Enough to last her ten months if she lived simply, like an everyday person. Her mind raced with possibilities¡ªsupplies, better gear, maybe even a real place to stay. She quickly scooped up the coins, tucking them into her pouch. As she turned to leave, the man called out. ¡°Hey, are you planning to buy some armor with that? Because no offense, but walking around like that might start giving people the wrong idea.¡± Jennifer froze, glancing down at her worn, battered outfit. It was clear the fabric and metal was barely holding together. ¡°I thought the armor was free,¡± she said, frowning. The man snorted. ¡°The first set is. You better head to the armory and get yourself sorted.¡± --- The armory was her next stop. Jennifer pushed it open to reveal racks upon racks of armor, gleaming steel, and leather in every shade imaginable. The smell of treated hides and metal polish filled the air. Behind the counter stood Aercu. He glanced up as she entered, recognition lighting up his face. ¡°Back already?¡± he asked, leaning casually on the counter. Jennifer nodded. ¡°Yeah, that was¡­ quick,¡± she admitted, approaching him. ¡°I need new armor.¡± Aercu tilted his head. ¡°Armor, huh? Yeah... I can see that. I was wondering if you were some near nudist nonsense for a second." "Yeah Yeah, I wasn''t really thinking of that." "So, what level are you?¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Jennifer hesitated, then spoke aloud. ¡°Key, display my level.¡± A large fiery number three appeared on the wall behind her, glowing faintly. Aercu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Level three already?¡± he muttered, looking at her with renewed interest. ¡°That was quick.¡± She shrugged, trying to downplay it. ¡°So, how much would armor cost?¡± Aercu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Well, you want the same type of light armor you got before?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Jennifer said. She didn¡¯t even need to think about it. Heavy armor wasn¡¯t her style¡ªshe needed to stay fast and agile incase she needed to make a quick escape or catch up to someone. Aercu nodded. ¡°It¡¯s gonna cost you this time. Five silver coins.¡± Her heart sank. ¡°Five silver? That¡¯s half of what I just earned!¡± ¡°Armor¡¯s not cheap, kid,¡± Mercu said with a shrug. ¡°But you don¡¯t want to head out there in scraps. Your call.¡± Grumbling under her breath, Jennifer counted out the coins and handed them over. Aercu took them with ease and began pulling out several sets of armor from the racks behind him. ¡°Alright,¡± he said, laying them out one by one. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ve got for level three. Leather and metal, reinforced stitching. Durable enough to take a a lot of hits but light enough for quick movement.¡± Jennifer studied the options carefully. The black set immediately caught her eye. The sleek, dark leather was accented with polished steel plating, giving it a striking yet practical appearance. It looked intimidating. ¡°This one,¡± she said, pointing to it. ¡°Good choice,¡± Aercu said, nodding approvingly. ¡°You¡¯ll turn a few heads in that... Not as much as you do now, but you get the point." "Yeah, I get it." Back at her small apartment, Jennifer changed into a long pants and shirt. She began packing her things. Her belongings fit into a single traveling wheel bag¡ªa few changes of clothes, her toothbrush, and a bottle of alcohol on the floor. She picked up the bottle, hesitated, then unscrewed the cap and took a long swig. The liquid burned her throat, spreading a fiery warmth through her chest. She grimaced, then grinned through the burn. Screwing the cap back on, she tossed the bottle into the bag, zipped it up, and slung it over her shoulder. It was time to move on. The walk to the new apartment complex took half an hour. When she finally arrived, the buildings loomed tall and uniform, their facades a mix of brick and concrete. She knocked firmly on the door of the first-floor unit and waited. Seconds passed, and she was about to knock again when the door creaked open. A middle-aged woman peered out, her graying hair pulled into a loose bun. Her eyes flicked over Jennifer¡¯s armor, then her traveling bag. ¡°What do you want?¡± the woman asked, her tone wary. ¡°I don¡¯t deal in odd jobs, and I don¡¯t need a Slayer poking around here.¡± Jennifer straightened her posture. ¡°I¡¯m not here for a job,¡± she said evenly. ¡°I¡¯m here for an apartment. Do you have any open units?¡± The woman blinked, clearly caught off guard. ¡°An apartment?¡± She glanced at Jennifer¡¯s bag again, then frowned as if trying to make sense of the situation. ¡°You¡¯re moving in?¡± Jennifer nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the idea. So¡­ do you have anything available?¡± The woman snorted softly, stepping back to grab a clipboard off a nearby table. ¡°You could say that. I¡¯ve got fourteen open units right now.¡± Jennifer raised an eyebrow. ¡°Fourteen?¡± she echoed. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a lot.¡± The woman shrugged, flipping through her papers. ¡°Not many people sticking around in this area lately. You¡¯re the first person in weeks to even ask.¡± ¡°Alright. Which of them costs one silver coin a month?¡± ¡°One silver a month, huh?¡± She tapped the pen against the clipboard, considering. ¡°Second floor.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± Jennifer said, already reaching for her pouch. She pulled out two single silver coins and held them out. "Fair enough,¡± she said. Reaching into a drawer by the door, she pulled out a tarnished brass key and handed it over. ¡°Apartment 2-F.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Jennifer said, taking the key. The woman leaned against the doorframe, watching as Jennifer adjusted her bag. ¡°You moving in today?¡± Jennifer nodded. ¡°Yeah. Just got back from work, thought I¡¯d get settled somewhere better.¡± ¡°Work, huh? Must¡¯ve been a good haul to afford this and that armor,¡± the woman remarked, gesturing to what Jennifer had on her shoulder. "I would say that." Chapter 21: A new Place, A look at oneself Jennifer trudged up the stairs. The second floor wasn¡¯t far, but every bit of her ached from the day¡¯s work. She paused at the top, scanning the numbered doors until she found 2-F at the end of the hall. The brass key fit easily into the lock, and with a soft click, the door swung open. She stepped inside and froze. For a moment, she wasn¡¯t sure if she had the right place. The apartment was¡­ Just as she expected for something that cost 2 silver coins a month. Clean floors, freshly painted walls, and sunlight spilling through large windows. There were two cushioned chairs neatly arranged around a modest wooden table in the main room. Curious, Jennifer wandered deeper. The bedroom was even better¡ªa decent-sized bed with clean white sheets, a small dresser, and a mirror mounted on the wall. She pushed open another door to find a second, empty room, its walls bare but spotless. Perfect for storage. The bathroom was surprisingly large, with a full tub and shiny fixtures that gleamed like they¡¯d been scrubbed that morning. Jennifer let out a low whistle. ¡°Well, this is a step up,¡± she muttered, setting her bag down by the bedroom door. She dropped her new armor in the extra room. Her gauntlets hit the floor with a dull clunk, the battered metal barely holding together, the edges torn and cracked. She nudged them aside with her foot and stretched, feeling the sharp tug of stiff muscles beneath her bruised skin. Back in the bedroom, she pulled the bedsheet off the mattress. She tossed it aside and rummaged through the closet. There, neatly folded on a shelf, were clean linens. She grabbed a new set and wrestled it onto the mattress. It wasn¡¯t perfect¡ªshe was too tired to care about wrinkles¡ªbut it was good enough. Satisfied, Jennifer straightened up and eyed the bathroom. A hot shower sounded better than anything in the world right now. She stepped inside and turned the knob, letting the water run until steam filled the air. The heat stung as she stepped under the spray, the water pouring over her cuts and scrapes, deep and shallow. She hissed sharply, her breath catching at the burning sensation, but she didn¡¯t back away. Instead, she let the heat do its work, washing away the grime, sweat, and dried blood from her skin. The cuts on her arms and legs throbbed, the bruises darkening as the water ran over them.Stolen novel; please report. After what felt like forever, she shut the water off and stepped out. The bathroom mirror was fogged up, but as she wiped it clear with her hand, her reflection stared back at her. Naked, she took a long look at herself. Cuts crisscrossed her arms, some shallow, others deeper and still angry red. Her ribs were bruised, her skin mottled with purple and yellow. She turned slightly, looking over her shoulder, and ran her fingers over the jagged cuts on her back. The monsters she¡¯d fought on her first day had left a mark on her neck and a deep one on her side, and she hadn¡¯t let herself properly recover since. Her face however wasn''t scarred. Not that it mattered. She lacked the beauty where scars would make her less attractive. You can''t put seasoning on shit and expect it to taste better. That''s how she saw herself. If she referred to herself as pretty, she was simply being sarcastic or ironic. Jennifer touched her cheek gently, watching herself in the mirror. Her reflection felt unfamiliar, and distant, like she was looking at someone else entirely. She sighed, leaning forward against the sink. This is the cost, she thought. The cost of making money so fast. My body¡¯s paying the price. But who cares anyway. The thought lingered as she stepped out of the bathroom, wrapping herself in a towel. Back in the bedroom, she grabbed a pair of pants from her bag and pulled them on. She glanced at the door to make sure it was shut before tossing the towel aside and collapsing onto the bed. The mattress felt softer than anything she¡¯d slept on in years. She stretched out, her arms spreading wide, her body sinking into the comfort of it. The ache in her muscles eased just a little, and for the first time that day, she smiled. Staring up at the ceiling, she let out a long breath. ¡°I like this,¡± she murmured to herself, her voice soft and tired. I really like this. --- The dream came suddenly, vivid and golden. Jennifer found herself standing in a massive mansion, its marble floors gleaming under crystal chandeliers. The room around her was grander than anything she¡¯d ever seen¡ªsilk curtains hung in shimmering waves from towering windows, and plush rugs stretched across the vast expanse of polished stone. A voice startled her, and she turned to see a line of servants bowing. One approached with a silver tray, offering a glass of wine. Another adjusted the hem of her flowing gown¡ªsomething elegant and white, nothing like the rugged armor she was used to. Beyond the open balcony doors, she glimpsed an enormous pool, its surface glittering under the sun. Lounge chairs surrounded it, and a gentle breeze carried the faint scent of blooming flowers. Jennifer wandered outside, marveling at the lush gardens and the sprawling estate beyond. Everything felt¡­ perfect. Every step she took whispered of luxury. She didn¡¯t know how, but this was hers. All of it was hers. She woke abruptly, the dream still clinging to her thoughts like the scent of flowers in the air. The room was dark, the faint glow of the moon streaming through the window. For a moment, she simply stared at the ceiling, the edges of the dream flickering in her mind. Then she laughed¡ªa quiet, breathy sound that turned into something fuller, something real. ¡°I finally had a good dream,¡± she murmured to herself, shaking her head. ¡°I always knew money mattered, but I didn¡¯t know it was also the cure to bad and mundane dreams¡± Chapter 22: Convincing Jennifer woke up to the faint glow of sunlight streaming through the window, her room bathed in a soft golden hue. She stretched, yawning deeply. Sitting at the edge of the bed, she blinked groggily at her surroundings. She smiled faintly, appreciating what she now had. Her eyes drifted to the window, and she frowned slightly. "I should really get curtains," she muttered to herself, brushing a hand through her hair. "Can¡¯t be walking around half-naked with daylight pouring in." She muttered. Standing, she made her way to her travel bag sitting on the floor by the wardrobe. After a bit of rummaging, she pulled out a simple bra and a clean shirt. Sliding them on, she frowned again, this time at the limited clothing in her bag. "I need more clothes," she mused, a grin tugging at her lips. "I actually have the money to think that and *mean it*." Jennifer turned and flopped back onto her bed, the mattress bouncing slightly under her weight. Arms stretched out, she stared up at the ceiling. "Buy something now? Or later?" she wondered aloud, kicking her legs lazily. Her original plan had been strict savings¡ªhoard every coin she earned, stay frugal¡ªbut she was earning ten silver coins a day now. Ten! More than enough to stop worrying over every little expense. Being super careful with her expenses was now unnecessary. She thought hard, her brows furrowing in a mock-serious expression, before shrugging. "Later. Definitely later," she concluded, jumping off the bed with a burst of energy. She dashed into the storage room, where her black armor sat neatly on the ground. *This shit is really mines.* After brushing her teeth in record time, she strapped herself into the armor piece by piece, admiring how sleek it looked. The dark, polished metal hugged her form like a second skin. Turning to the mirror, she grinned and struck a dramatic pose, her fists on her hips like a valiant hero. "Behold! The mighty Jennifer, slayer of monsters!" she declared, planting her fists on her hips in a classic hero¡¯s stance, her chin tilted upward as though she were gazing out over a conquered battlefield. She shifted her stance, raising an imaginary sword high above her head, her face the very picture of noble determination. "Fear not, citizens! Your savior has arrived!" She struck a regal pose, one hand resting delicately over her heart, the other gesturing outward with grand flair. She pivoted into a new stance, bowing low and sweeping her arm dramatically as though she were a victorious queen addressing her loyal subjects. "Thank you, thank you," she said, miming a crown on her head with her free hand. The queenly pose morphed seamlessly into a gallant knight kneeling in devotion, one knee to the ground, her hands clasped as if swearing fealty. She held the pose for a second before springing up and pointing dramatically at the mirror. "Evil beware! The Hero of the Gates is here to vanquish all foes!"The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Her energy shifted as she twirled in place, arms outstretched, letting her armor clink softly as she spun. "And the *princess* shall dance at the victory feast!" she announced, striking a delicate pirouette mid-spin. Jennifer broke into a silly little dance, shuffling her feet and pumping her arms as though she were celebrating a hard-fought victory. "Oh yeah! Who¡¯s the best monster slayer? That¡¯s right, it¡¯s me!" she cheered, throwing in a little hip sway for good measure. But the moment wasn¡¯t complete without a more commanding display. Jennifer pivoted into a royal stance, standing tall and solemn, one hand raised as though issuing a decree to an unseen kingdom. "As your empress," she announced in a mock deep voice, "I order you all to bow before my awesomeness." She chuckled and saluted herself in the mirror. Finally, after what had to be at least a dozen poses, she fell back into her initial stance, her hands on her hips. "Alright, that¡¯s enough messing around." She left the apartment. Opening her Gate Map, she stared at the glowing display of portals around the region. Her finger hovered over the blue gates, specifically the medium blue one¡ªthe one just a shade darker than the light blue. Her thoughts wandered briefly to the dark blue gates. They were tougher, meant for higher level fighters. But for now, she¡¯d stick to the medium ones. It was the smart choice. The plan had been to tackle the gate alone¡ªshe preferred working solo¡ªbut as she took a step toward her destination, she hesitated. "James," she murmured. It would be selfish not to involve him. She turned on her heel and headed for his home. Reaching his door, she knocked firmly. A muffled voice answered from within. "Who is it?" came James¡¯s groggy voice, thick with sleep. "It¡¯s me," Jennifer called back. "Come to a gate with me. I¡¯ll help you level up." There was a long pause, followed by a groan. "Jennifer, it¡¯s so early..." "Exactly!" she replied. "More time to get stronger, more money to make. Come on." A shuffling noise followed, and the door creaked open. James stood there, his hair sticking up at odd angles, his face still half-asleep. "Look, I was thinking..." He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. "I don¡¯t really want to be a monster slayer anymore." Jennifer blinked, caught off guard. "What?" "I mean, I got into this because of my brother." He sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "But last night, when I just sat and thought about it... I realized it¡¯s not really *my* thing. Not anymore. I know I said I wanted to help that other world... but I just don''t know." Jennifer stared at him for a moment, processing his words. "Then change your mind." James blinked, his expression turning incredulous. "You¡¯re not very empathetic, you know that?" She winced. "Okay, yeah, that came out wrong. Sorry." She stepped back slightly, giving him space. "I *want* to force you to join me, but I get it. You were kind of forced into this already. Still... I want you to come with me. At least for the fun of it." "Fun?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah," she said. "Let¡¯s be heroes together. Even if it¡¯s just for a little while. It¡¯s not just about slaying monsters or saving a world. It¡¯s about... I don¡¯t know, doing something that matters. With people who matter. Or who we want to make matter in our life. You said you wanted to be friends. Something along that lines anyway." James stared at her, his tired expression softening as he considered her words. "I thought you were just trying to get stronger, famous and richer." "I mean, yeah, that too," she admitted with a laugh. "But that doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t have a little fun being rich along the way." He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "You¡¯re really bad at convincing people, you know that?" "Noted," she said. "But I think the friends thing would work well on you." "Yeah... it did. Give me a second," he said, stepping back inside. The door closed softly behind him. Chapter 23: Zombies? James stepped out of his house, now fully armored. Although his face still held traces of sleepiness, he looked ready. "You should know, we ain''t coming back until it''s night." "Yeah, yeah," James muttered, adjusting his arm guards. Her mood shifted abruptly as a sharp pain stabbed into her back, radiating out like a beacon. She winced, instinctively placing a hand against the spot. The sensation wasn¡¯t new, but it was no less jarring. It pointed her body slightly toward the east, something out there was calling her. "Jennifer?" James asked, noticing the change in her expression. He stepped closer, concern etched across his face. "You okay?" "Change of plans," she said, her voice tight. "It¡¯s the same thing as yesterday." His brows furrowed. "What? What are you¡ª" "Pain. Direction. Can¡¯t talk." She spoke the words quickly, her tone clipped as she focused on the signal in her back. Realization dawned on James¡¯s face, and he nodded. "Got it. Let¡¯s move." --- The two of them arrived at another fire twister, its flaming vortex twisting violently. Jennifer barely hesitated as she grabbed James by the arm, pulling him forward. "Gonna be honest, I''m kinda nervous¡ª" The fire twister roared to life, cutting him off. A smaller twister split off from the main one, engulfing them in a blaze. Jennifer felt her feet leave the ground, her body spinning wildly before everything went black for a fraction of a second. When they landed, the world around them was entirely different. The air was calm, and they stood in a field of tall grass that swayed gently in a breeze. Wooden houses were scattered around the area, their weathered structures standing silent against the backdrop of the pale blue sky. At first glance, it looked peaceful. But a closer look revealed cracks in the picture¡ªwindows boarded up, some doors hanging loosely on hinges. "This place feels... dead," James said. Jennifer didn¡¯t respond. The world around her froze suddenly, and everything seemed to go still. The breeze stopped, James¡¯s movements halted mid-step. Flaming letters burned into the ground before her. This mission is more complex than the first one. The words scrawled themselves slowly, the fire hissing with each new line. You must locate the mother electric spider monster in this area, bounded by the rivers, and kill it before it can spawn a new set of monsters. You may leave once this mission is accomplished.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Jennifer stared at the writing. Monsters are not your only enemies. Be careful of those that work with them. This message could not be relayed without freezing time. Assistants are allowed basic mission details but not essential information about the Great Key of Everything. The fiery letters on the ground burned away, leaving scorched marks on the grass beneath her boots. Time resumed its natural flow as the air shifted back into motion. James turned to her, oblivious to what had just occurred. "So, where are the obvious monsters?" "There aren¡¯t any. This one¡¯s... more complicated. We¡¯re looking for a monster mother¡ªan electric spider. It spawns more monsters, so we have to take it out before it can release anything new." "A mother... ?" James repeated, raising a brow. "Since when do monsters have mothers?" "I didn''t know that too. It¡¯s supposed to be somewhere between the rivers around here. We just have to find it." "Do they also have fathers?" "Probably, or its some asexual reproduction." "What''s that again?" "I think it''s when certain animals kinda fuck themselves to get pregnant?" "Sounds kinda cool." "Hell yeah." The two of them started moving through the field, their footsteps crunching softly against the dry grass. The abandoned houses loomed like sentinels around them. The place felt utterly devoid of life. "Looks like this place has been dead for a while," James muttered. "Yeah," Jennifer agreed. As she said it, her eyes caught movement. In the distance, a figure stood inside one of the houses, peering out through the glass panel of the door. The moment they made eye contact, the figure pulled back, retreating deeper into the shadows of the home. "Oh, I just saw someone. But they¡¯re scared," Jennifer said quietly. James pointed ahead, his expression darkening. "I think I see why this area¡¯s so dreaded." Jennifer followed his gaze, her stomach twisting at the sight. A hoard of figures was walking around down the slope. Their skin was pallid and torn, their movements jerky and erratic. Fortunately they didn''t notice the duo Jennifer¡¯s hand went to her sword. "Monsters come in human shapes now?" James frowned, his own weapon at the ready. "They¡¯re wearing clothes. These were people. Maybe there¡¯s a monster here that turns them into this." "Or," Jennifer said grimly, "there¡¯s a zombie outbreak going on. Has Earth ever really dealt with a zombie problem? Like, through history? I only read about it in novels when I was younger." "About 200 years ago, in the Thalassari Coalition," he said, his tone neutral. "Big outbreak. Lost a lot of people before they managed to shut it down." "So, is there like, a special way to kill them? Other than just... bombing them?" "Wish I could tell you." He snapped his fingers, and a series of metal disks appeared, floating around him in an orbit. "Let''s hope they ain¡¯t fast." Jennifer stepped forward, her feet making the grass shift as a metallic sheen spread across her skin, coating it like armor. She jumped up and down, testing the weight. "I¡¯ll lure them away from you while you attack. Shouldn¡¯t be too hard." James looked skeptical. "What if they bite your eye? Or got super strong teeth? That virus could go straight through you." She glanced at the horde again, making a quick assessment of their numbers. Then, she stepped back and started moving toward a slight incline where the hill began to dip. "They¡¯ll have to get through a lot of goo first," she said. James nodded. "You know, my range isn¡¯t that great. You¡¯ll need to bring them closer¡ª*a lot* closer, for me to make a real impact. So you can''t lure them away from me by too much." "Hmm..." Her metallic coat shimmered for a moment before disappearing. "Okay, let¡¯s see how many of them there are first," she said. "Looks like about 60 or so, but there could be more. Maybe over 500, just waiting at the edge. I mean, a zombie cry¡ªcould easily trigger all of them from a distance." James frowned as he examined the horizon, nodding in agreement. "Wouldn¡¯t it be better if we stuck to stealth and moved quietly? Do the mission without triggering a massive horde?" "How are we supposed to kill a monster in a stealthy way? If it can spawn monsters, it''s definitely stronger than the normal ones we kill. And once it starts thrashing around we¡¯ll be fighting both a mother monster *and* the zombies at the same time." Chapter 24: A talk "The best thing to do is talk to that person I saw," she said. "Figure out how bad this zombie situation is. If it¡¯s really too much for us to handle, then¡­ I don¡¯t know. But I¡¯m not taking any chances fighting both the zombies and that mother monster." James nodded. "I agree. But which house? And do you think the others are *really* empty?" Jennifer glanced at the broken and boarded-up windows of the nearby buildings. Some of them had boarded-up doors, others were just broken apart. "Some of them definitely are," she said. She moved toward the house where she¡¯d spotted someone earlier. The front door was closed, but the window had thick wooden planks nailed over it. She stepped close and whispered, "Hello?" No response. Jennifer pressed her palm against the wood. "Look, my friend and I are here to kill monsters. And zombies. We just need some information." A woman¡¯s voice came from inside, sharp and tense. "Go away. Or I¡¯ll blow your pimp¡¯s head off." Jennifer frowned. "Pimp?" she muttered under her breath, confused and already irritated. She tried again. "This isn¡¯t a trap." There was movement behind the window. A moment later, a shotgun barrel pushed through the gaps between the planks, pointing directly at Jennifer¡¯s face. Jennifer¡¯s skin shimmered, shifting to silver in an instant. She didn¡¯t flinch. Here¡¯s the scene with hyper-realistic dialogue, natural back-and-forth, and added depth to the emotions and tension. The woman¡¯s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Get the hell out of here." Her eyes flicked between Jennifer and James, her grip on the shotgun steady. "I know your tricks. The *nerve* to come back here after everything you¡¯ve done, but now dressed in fancy armor and¡ª" She hesitated, eyes narrowing as she took in their features. "Wait¡­ your ears. They¡¯re not pointed?" Jennifer didn¡¯t react at first, just letting the woman process the realization. Unlike her¡ªyellow-eyed, sharp-eared, her face gaunt with exhaustion¡ªthey looked completely different. Jennifer flexed her fingers, letting her claws slide out in a slow, deliberate motion. "We¡¯re not hu-- people traffickers," she said, her voice steady. "You heard about that monster attack on the school?" The woman didn¡¯t blink. Jennifer continued. "We stopped it. Used our powers to keep those kids alive." The woman let out a slow breath, but instead of relief, her expression darkened. "That¡¯s unfortunate." Jennifer frowned. "What?" The woman¡¯s grip on the shotgun tightened. "_The Highlanders should¡¯ve died._" The words came out cold, firm, like a fact she had long accepted. "You should have let them die." James stiffened beside Jennifer, his hands clenching at his sides. "Those were _kids_," he said, his voice edged with frustration. "What the hell is wrong with you?" The woman turned her eyes on him, unflinching. "They were Highlanders." "Are the Highlanders the traffickers?" The woman let out a bitter chuckle. "No," she said flatly. "But I don¡¯t give a shit if they were kids. From the moment Highlanders are born, they¡¯re evil." Jennifer felt James tense again, but she didn¡¯t look at him. The woman¡¯s voice didn¡¯t waver. "You wanna know where the zombies came from? *Them*. While the rest of us are fighting to survive, they live separate. Safe. Protected. And the people who *do* sell people?" She exhaled sharply through her nose. "They¡¯re my own kind. Preying on us. Selling us to Highlanders, selling us to _each other_."Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Silence stretched between them. Jennifer nodded slowly, absorbing the weight of her words. "I want to help." James said nothing. The woman¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but her lips curled into something like amusement¡ªbitter, distant, tired. "Good luck with that." Her voice was dry. "I stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago. The world¡¯s fucked." Jennifer held her gaze. "Monsters exist in this world now," she said simply. "That¡¯s new. You won¡¯t just have to deal with zombies anymore. You¡¯ll have to worry about *them* too." The woman let out a small, almost humorless laugh. "Then I die." James shook his head. "I don¡¯t get it." Jennifer did. It was the way the woman spoke, the dullness in her tone¡ªnot fear, not even bitterness, just the acceptance of someone who had already lost too much to care. The woman reached into her pocket, fingers closing around something. Slowly, she pulled out a pendant. It was old, the metal worn, but the picture inside was still clear enough to see. A man. A woman. A little girl, no older than five, all smiling like they belonged in a world that no longer existed. Jennifer said nothing. The woman swallowed hard, staring at the picture as if she wasn¡¯t even sure why she had taken it out. "My husband," she murmured. "He died to a zombie." She hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly. "My little girl¡­" Her voice broke for just a second before she pushed through. "She was kidnapped by the people who sell others to sick bastards. And most likely¡­" She trailed off, then shook her head. "I don¡¯t even want to *think* about what they did to her." Jennifer stayed quiet, letting her speak. "All I can hope for is that an accident happened," the woman whispered. "That they gave her a quick death. Because death is better than¡­ what they do to you." A heavy silence filled the space between them. Jennifer inhaled, her voice quieter this time. "I¡¯m sorry to hear that." The woman just tucked the pendant back into her pocket. "Doesn¡¯t change anything," she muttered. Jennifer hesitated, then said, "I don¡¯t want you to fight. I just need to know¡­ how many of them are around here? If I attack one, how many will come running?" The woman exhaled slowly. "Hundreds. Thousands, maybe." Jennifer¡¯s jaw tightened. "How sensitive to sound are they?" "Extremely reactive, hearing is that of a normal person. So they can''t hear us as long as we keep out voice extremely low like we are doing right now." Jennifer looked around, taking in the silent, ruined place. Her shoulders slumped slightly, a quiet sigh escaping her. "And¡­ their bites? Their speed?" The woman blinked at her, almost disbelieving the question. "Speed? Like a full-grown adult with infinite stamina. Bite¡­ like a dog. But if they can¡¯t bite you, they¡¯ll try spitting in your mouth, your ears. That¡¯s how they infect you." Jennifer nodded, filing the information away. Then the woman¡¯s eyes flicked upward. A thin thread stretched across the ceiling, almost invisible in the dim light. It was vibrating. Her face paled. "Inside. Now," she whispered harshly. "Back door!" Jennifer and James didn¡¯t hesitate. They slipped around the side of the house, moving quickly but quietly. A deep, guttural roar echoed from somewhere close. Too close. Jennifer shoved James inside, shutting the door behind them. The place was a mess¡ªfurniture overturned, empty cans stacked in a corner, dust thick in the air. The woman dropped to the floor, pressing herself flat. Jennifer and James followed. The sound grew louder. Heavy footsteps, snarls, the scrape of something dragging across the pavement. Then¡­ silence. They waited. Seconds stretched, then minutes. Finally, the woman let out a breath. "They do rounds," she whispered. Jennifer turned her head slightly. "Bloody hell." The woman nodded. "Since we¡¯re trapped here, with the bridge blown off, they do walks. Not sure why. But they always come back." Jennifer absorbed that. "How have you survived?" The woman was quiet for a moment, then said, "There¡¯s about five of us. I had food. A lot of it. When the outbreak started, it was in faraway part of the country. I was paranoid. The whole town was. We made a plan, stocked up a couple years¡¯ worth of rations." She exhaled through her nose. "That was six years ago." Jennifer frowned. "So you¡¯ve been living off that?" "Not exactly." The woman¡¯s voice was flat. "I ran out a while ago. Had to take from my dead townfolk." Jennifer said nothing. James shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Jennifer. She was lost in thought, brow furrowed. Then, suddenly, she straightened. "James," she said. "I have an idea. It¡¯s kinda dumb, and it¡¯ll need you to be really, really fast." James arched a brow. "Tell me." Jennifer gestured for him to lean in, speaking low. The woman watched, uninterested. Whatever they were planning, she didn¡¯t care. After a while, she finally spoke. "What are you?" Jennifer and James both looked at her. The woman narrowed her eyes. "And where are you from?" Jennifer smiled faintly. "We¡¯re humans, far from this world. We specialize in killing monsters." The woman studied them. "You do this for a living?" They both nodded. Jennifer added, "But we¡¯re kinda new. When we saved that school, the guards there thought we were sent by the gods." The woman let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah? Well, I wouldn¡¯t count on the gods to save this place." Jennifer didn¡¯t argue. "I know. Today we''ll be your gods." "Oh ho...?" She and James stood. The woman didn¡¯t try to stop them as they made their way to the door. James exhaled, flexing his fingers. He was anxious. Jennifer gave him a look. "You ready?" He sighed. "As ready as I¡¯ll ever be."